Prevent child violence, Women and Child Protection Ministry: Family Learning Centres must strengthen families

Jakarta — Indonesia’s Minister for Women Empowerment and Child Protection Arifah Fauzi has emphasised the critical importance of Family Learning Centres (Puspaga) in strengthening families and addressing child protection challenges.

Speaking in Jakarta on Monday, Minister Fauzi stated: “Puspaga functions as a family learning space providing education, consultation, counselling, and referrals. It must be strengthened as a professional, structured prevention service institution that is adaptive to contemporary challenges and easily accessible to village level. Puspaga cannot remain merely a programme. It must become a collective movement to strengthen Indonesian families.”

Family instability is a significant factor driving high rates of violence against women and children. Minister Fauzi underscored that family strengthening through Puspaga forms an integral part of development towards Golden Indonesia 2045. “When families are strong and empowered, children are protected. With our commitment to Empowered Women, Protected Children, we are building Indonesia’s future — safer and more dignified,” she said.

The minister noted that child protection issues do not exist in isolation but are rooted in family conditions. Child violence figures remain a serious concern, whilst the country faces escalating mental health problems among children, including psychological stress, loneliness, and loss of safe spaces to share concerns. Child suicide cases serve as a stark reminder of insufficient parental care and support systems.

Early warning signs such as behavioural changes, withdrawal, or emotional outbursts often go undetected and untreated, increasing risks of violence and depression. Consequently, child protection approaches must shift from case management alone towards family-based preventive and promotional strategies. Early identification and intervention are essential to preventing serious harm.