MPR: SIMEP PA must serve as the basis for accelerating child protection reforms

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Deputy Speaker of the MPR, Lestari Moerdijat, stated that the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting Information System for Child Protection (SIMEP PA) version 3.0 must serve as the foundation for accelerating the reform of the child protection system in Indonesia.

She advised that the new child protection system, launched by the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAhend) last September, should not merely function as a data collection tool but should act as a strategic step towards achieving a protection system with a tangible impact.

“This application must be a catalyst to accelerate the reform of the child protection system. We must no longer simply extinguish the fire after the fire has occurred,” said Rerie, the affectionate nickname for Lestari Moerdijat, in a statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Rerie noted that the existence of such a system is urgent, given that according to data from the Online Information System for the Protection of Women and Children (SIMFONI-PPA), there were 21,352 recorded cases of child violence throughout 2025, with 16,136 victims being female.

Furthermore, KPAI data recorded approximately 6,900 complaints of alleged violations of children’s rights received during the 2023–2025 period, averaging more than 2,000 cases per year.

According to Rerie, these figures demonstrate that the rate of child violence remains high, despite various regulations having been issued.

She stated that SIMEP PA 3.0 must be capable of producing child protection reports for ministries and local governments, which should then be followed up through policy corrections and systemic improvements.

Rerie also encouraged the integration of SIMEP PA data with SIMFONI-PPA to prevent overlapping data collection and to ensure that responses to child violence cases can be executed more rapidly.

Additionally, she emphasised the importance of collaboration between the government, the private sector, communities, and the public in building a more effective and data-driven child protection system.

A preventive and data-driven approach, according to Rerie, is key to closing the gaps that have historically left children vulnerable.

“With this new system, Indonesia is expected to move from a reactive handling pattern towards a proactive, integrated, and evidence-based child protection system, so that every child can directly feel the presence of state protection,” she said.