KPAI launches SIMEP PA as a solution to fulfil children's rights

The Indonesian Commission for the Protection of Children (KPAI) has launched the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting Information System for Child Protection (SIMEP PA) as a commitment and a solution to fulfil children’s rights.

“Despite the many regulations, programmes, and services provided by the state, KPAI still finds gaps and negative impacts experienced by children. This is evidenced by the high number of complaints, with KPAI handling more than 2,000 cases per year,” said KPAI Chairman Aris Adi Leksono during the launch of SIMEP PA in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Aris explained that the primary focus of the instrument is to capture child protection regulations at the level of ministries, agencies, and local governments, as well as to ensure transparency and accountability in data regarding the fulfilment and protection of children in Indonesia.

“The goal is to provide effective supervision of the implementation of child protection in Indonesia despite existing resource limitations,” he said.

“Thirdly, the dimension of service accountability will assess the effectiveness and sustainability of child protection services,” he added.

The scope of the child rights fulfilment system captured by the instrument includes the civil rights system, the right to education, the right to health, the social welfare and alternative care system, the juvenile justice and criminal system, and the cross-sector system (inter-agency collaboration).

Aris also emphasised the importance of a systemic approach and strong prevention in child protection efforts, as well as the involvement of those closest to the child (family, educational institutions, neighbours), because most perpetrators of child rights violations are actually people close to the child.