KPAI Recommends Steps to End Child Violence

After a series of shocking cases in Pati and Ngawi, the public has again been confronted with the arrest of a padepokan (traditional Islamic boarding school) leader in Pekalongan Regency, Central Java, on suspicion of sexual misconduct against dozens of female students. Following repeated incidents of sexual abuse within pesantren (Islamic boarding schools), the Commission for Child Protection (KPAI) has formulated recommendations that must be urgently implemented by the state and stakeholders to break the cycle of sexual violence, particularly in such institutions. KPAI Commissioner Jasra Putra stated the need for a revolutionary work paradigm through national assessments, urging the central and regional governments to prioritise prevention. ‘Currently, the government is conducting National Assessments in education, health, and mental health sectors. KPAI insists this programme must consistently reach all children in pesantren. Early detection of students’ physical and mental health is key. Without proper initial health assessments, educational programmes risk failure and the state will be unable to curb the rising rate of sexual crimes,’ Jasra said during a Wednesday (27 May) interview. Proactive victim retrieval and recovery must accompany strict monitoring and assessments. The sooner victims are detected and provided with counselling and psychological support, the more effective child protection programmes will be in pesantren. Jasra added that KPAI demands a comprehensive review of law enforcement effectiveness under current regulations. A monitoring system involving founders, promoters, managers, and administrators of pesantren is essential for collaborative efforts to eliminate sexual violence. Beyond pesantren, parental involvement is crucial. Education should not solely rest on the shoulders of boarding schools. ‘Parents who entrust their children to pesantren must remain actively involved in supervision. The current hands-off approach after sending children to boarding schools must shift to a participatory and communicative parenting style,’ Jasra said. Lastly, urgent passage of the Child Care Bill (RUU Pengasuhan Anak) is a critical upstream intervention. Jasra stressed the urgency of the bill, noting the state’s role in early detection of care quality from birth onwards. ‘Without routine and effective care monitoring, we will continue facing issues at the peak—when children repeatedly suffer neglect, abandonment, and abuse. The Child Care Bill is crucial to ensure binding protection standards for all parties, so children are not victimised in places that should be their safest spaces for learning religion and morals,’ he concluded.