Protection bill for children to be submitted to DPR

JAKARTA (JP): The State Minister of Human Rights Affairs, Hasballah M. Saad has pledged to push a draft bill on the protection of children, which has been loitering on ministerial desks for over five years, to the House of Representatives as soon as possible.

"I've heard of the draft since five years ago, and now I promise to push along the process," Hasballah said during a commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of Children on Saturday.

The minister lamented that the general public often ignored children's rights.

By establishing a strict law, hopefully everyone will start realizing their responsibility toward the future of children.

"People should realize that these children are not just the country's assets but also owners of the country," he added.

He particularly disparaged the apparent lack of concern toward the many street children and others who are forced to seek work at a young age.

He chided arguments that these children, because of the economic crisis befalling the country, were often breadwinners and had to work to support the whole family.

"Every parent should understand that it is their responsibility to support the children, not vice versa," he charged.

Hasballah underlined the need for better opportunities for children to attain access to education and health facilities. "These are the two basic things needed for children to have a better future," he added.

State Minister of Women Empowerment Khofifah Indar Parawansa, who was also present at the ceremony, urged her colleagues in the government to double the budget in the education sector.

"Part of the budget can be used to finance poor children to go to school," she said.

Ten percent of the current state budget of Rp 218 trillion is allocated for education.

"The government should have the political will to endorse child protection laws and increase the education budget," she said.

Two different ceremonies were held on Saturday by the National Commission on Children's Protection. In the morning, the venue was at the Fantasy Land recreational park in Ancol, North Jakarta, while in the afternoon, a ceremony was held at the Proclamation Monument, Central Jakarta.

More then 100 children invited by various non-governmental organizations were entertained and given a whole day to play inside the recreational park.

Hasballah and Khofifah took time to talk to the children before leaving the site to attend a Cabinet meeting.

Separately, commission member Arist Merdeka Sirait lamented that despite ratifying the convention nine years ago, most Indonesians were still ignorant of its importance.

"From our survey last year, 92 percent of Indonesian officials aren't familiar with the convention," he said.

The convention was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989 to ensure that state parties recognize and protect the rights of children. (04)