Poverty That Kills a Child's Hope

A poignant story unfolded in the Pejaten Raya area, Pasar Minggu District, South Jakarta. A baby girl, estimated to be only two days old, was found inside a black shopping bag placed on a nasi uduk cart in the afternoon on Tuesday, 3 March 2026. The incident raises many questions — how could a baby be abandoned in a public space, and why must a child bear such a heavy burden of a decision?

The Chair of the National Commission for Child Protection (Komnas PA), Agustinus Sirait, said the incident could not be separated from poverty and weak social protection for vulnerable groups. Children from vulnerable groups are often said to lack a safe space to report or seek help when facing difficult situations. In fact, social spaces in society should be able to function as the first place for children to seek help. “Religious houses should be open to play an active role as spaces where this child can report, complain, or ask for help. Including RPTRAs, playgrounds could become posts,” he said.

Agustinus also noted that community responsiveness and the presence of the state are important considerations to prevent vulnerable groups from taking extreme measures.

Police said the baby was first found by a resident named Dinda after hearing the crying from the nasi uduk cart parked in front of her house. Pasar Minggu Police Chief Anggiat Sinambela said the baby was found inside the black shopping bag which also contained a note. “The baby girl is estimated to be two days old based on the writing on the paper left by someone with initials Z, who is suspected of intentionally abandoning the baby at the scene,” Anggiat said. In the letter, the writer who signed with initials Z says she is 12 years old and is the sister of the baby. She explains that their mother died during childbirth.