KPPPA Urges Children to Voice Ideas for Policy Improvement

The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (KPPPA) is urging and supporting children to bravely voice their ideas for improving government policies to be more inclusive and friendly towards women and children. “Change is born from the voices of children who dare to express ideas and be part of the solution. The Golden Indonesia vision will not be realised if children experience exploitation and are not given space to be heard. Building human quality begins from childhood, even from the womb,” said Acting Deputy for the Fulfilment of Children’s Rights at KPPPA, Rini Handayani, at the Wahana Visi Indonesia Inspirational Story Festival at the National Library Building, Jakarta, on Thursday.

“Please also see whether the government has integrated this into development planning documents, because sometimes according to adults, according to us in the government, this has been included, but what about according to children? You can also voice if something has not been included, as this serves as an alarm for policies the government has made,” she said. According to her, the nation’s best investment is not only building infrastructure or technology, but building human quality from childhood, even from the womb.

KPPPA, in collaboration with various parties, continues to strengthen child protection regulations, one of which is Law Number 4 of 2024 concerning Maternal and Child Welfare in the First Thousand Days of Life (ages 0-2 years). “Children are not just beneficiaries of development, but development partners who have the right to be heard, to participate, and to help determine Indonesia’s future. The government continues to strengthen various programmes, including strengthening the Children’s Forum and other child groups, developing Child-Friendly Districts/Cities, and strengthening volunteers and activists who are friends of women and children,” said Rini.

Furthermore, the Ministry of PPPA continues to educate the public about positive parenting, child-friendly schools, and collaboration through the Ruang Bersama Indonesia at the village and sub-district levels. “Festivals like this can provide space for children’s voices, not only showcasing programme successes but also presenting children as speakers, artists, and agents of change. This shows that child participation is not just a slogan, but is truly realised in a meaningful way,” she said.