Veronica Tan Seeks to Strengthen the Empowerment Functions of the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection

Deputy Minister for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA), Veronica Tan, stated that the Ministry of PPPA now not only has the duty to protect but also focuses on the functions and tasks of empowering women and children.

She conveyed this during a speech at the CNN Indonesia’s The Big Idea Forum (TBIF) at the Transmedia Building in Jakarta on Thursday (16/4).

Veronica said the Ministry of PPPA also wants to seek solutions not only by getting involved in resolving cases but also by helping in the process.

“Interpreting Kartini Day, of course, the Ministry of PPPA is no longer just crying, no longer seeking solutions downstream by resolving cases. In our minds at the Ministry of PPPA, we know we have hands that want to help, we want to do something,” said Veronica.

“But due to limitations in how we collaborate with prosecutors, courts, and all institutions that can guide until a verdict is reached, providing punishment to the perpetrators,” she added.

She then revealed that many Indonesian children today have fading mental, emotional, and ethical values.

“Especially as we know, just recently there was an incident at schools and universities, where spaces between children themselves—terms like mental, emotional, ethics—have already faded,” she said.

Therefore, the Ministry of PPPA now also wants to carry out its duties and functions in empowering Indonesian women and children.

“Well, this is actually an alarm for all of us. Because going back, if we chase cases, courts, verdicts, and so on, we will run in place here. Finally, our ministry, the Minister with me, we think we are not just protecting, we have duties and functions of empowerment,” she said.

CNN Indonesia held The Big Idea Forum (TBIF) for Kartini Day with the theme ‘Women’s Power: Nurturing Life, Leading Change’ on Thursday (16/4).

Several speakers at the forum included the Chair of the People’s Representative Council (DPR) RI, Puan Maharani.

In addition to Puan, other speakers were Minister of Communication and Digital (Menkomdigi) Meutya Hafid, Deputy Minister for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Veronica Tan, Governor of North Maluku Sherly Tjoanda, vaccine researcher Carina Dewi, Aesthetics and Skin Health Practitioner dr. Ayu Widianingrum, and Mayor of Semarang Agustina Wilujeng.