KPAI Urges Immediate Construction of Comprehensive Child Protection System

Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), Jasra Putra, has stressed that the upcoming National Children’s Day on 23 July should serve as a reminder that children are a divine trust and the nation’s future generation. He emphasised the importance of building a comprehensive child protection system without delay. “Efforts to build a comprehensive child protection system must start now. Do not wait until tomorrow, let alone wait until 2045,” Jasra stated during an online forum discussion on Wednesday (8/7). According to Jasra, Indonesia’s biggest homework is the consistent implementation of all existing child protection regulations. This requires the active involvement of all relevant parties, given that children currently make up one-third of Indonesia’s total population. On the same occasion, Lentera Anak Foundation consultant Reza Indragiri Amriel highlighted the phenomenon of the “triangle of death” as a common root of violence against children. The three factors include divorce, custody battles, and the denial of parental access to children. Reza assessed that these three events often trigger violence, a situation worsened by legal processes sometimes handled by law enforcement officers who lack a crucial understanding of child protection aspects. “These matters must be taken seriously in the effort to realise a comprehensive protection system for children,” he said. Meanwhile, holistic health consultant and psychologist Shinta Sari Shaleh explained that the deepest impact of violence is often not physically visible. The greatest wound for child victims of violence lies in how they view themselves. She noted that many child victims report incidents late due to deep trauma, especially if the perpetrator is a close person with a power relationship. She stressed that the mental health recovery process for children must be thorough. “Efforts to restore the mental health of child victims of violence must be complete and comprehensive, involving the active role of parents and family as the main support system,” Shinta concluded.