KPAI Highlights Sampang Case, Stresses Urgent Need for Digital Parenting

The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has assessed the alleged sexual violence against a 15-year-old girl in Sampang, East Java, as a mirror of a national parenting crisis. Deputy Chairperson Jasra Putra stated that the case, which reportedly involves 27 perpetrators, demonstrates the increasingly complex challenges of child-rearing amidst the onslaught of the digital world. “The number of children facing the law shows that parenting challenges in Indonesia can no longer rely solely on past experiences. Children today are growing up in a digital environment that is very different from their parents’ generation,” Jasra said on Saturday (11/7). He emphasised the importance of parental presence in providing guidance and instilling proper values at home. According to him, the private sphere of the family has now been penetrated by the influence of digital content, public figures, and online communities that children encounter daily. Consequently, KPAI asserts that parenting is no longer just a private family matter. The state, schools, religious leaders, society, and digital platforms share a collective responsibility to create a safe environment for children’s development. Regarding regulations, Jasra argued that although Indonesia has strict legal instruments, the threat of severe criminal penalties has not been able to break the chain of sexual crimes against children. Law enforcement cannot stand alone without efforts to dismantle the roots of rape culture. “The series of incidents that continue to emerge show that this issue has become a national crisis requiring extraordinary measures,” he stressed, noting that cases of sexual violence against children are no longer just the tip of the iceberg. KPAI invites all elements of the nation to use the Sampang case as momentum to strengthen character education, digital literacy, and community-based child protection. The courage to correct social practices that demean the dignity of women and children is the key.