The Home as Foundation for Child Protection: Parenting is Not Solely the Mother's Responsibility
In child protection structures, the home occupies the most important position as the first line of defence. The family environment is not merely a place to live, but the primary ecosystem that determines how a child will grow, develop, and feel secure in the wider world.
The importance of positioning the home as a pillar of child protection was emphasised by Ida Fauziyah, Deputy General Chair of the Democratic Party of Indonesia’s central leadership and advocate for women’s and children’s issues. “The home is the primary foundation for child protection. Only then do I mention school, supported by the environment. Given how important the home is as the foundation for protecting children, good parenting practices are required,” said Ida during a dialogue with the Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Indonesia on Friday, 27 February 2026.
According to her, schools and social environments can only provide optimal support if the foundation within the home has been strengthened through proper parenting practices. She likened parental mental capacity and patience to a mobile phone’s battery, which can deteriorate rapidly due to daily pressures.
Therefore, parents need to be aware of the need to continuously learn and update their communication methods with children so that the principle of affection is not lost when emotions run high. “That’s why I agree that parenting should not only happen before marriage, but parenting is needed repeatedly,” she said.
“When a child misbehaves, people are sure to say, ‘Who is their mother?’. Yet truly, parenting is the responsibility of parents—the responsibility of both father and mother, a shared responsibility,” she stated.
The stereotype that “the father only provides income” is seen as a form of neglect of the child’s right to receive affection and protective figures from both parents. She emphasised that challenging this traditional division of roles is essential for ensuring comprehensive child protection and development.