Protection bill for children to be submitted to DPR
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)