Violence in "daycare" and the state's responsibility for child protection

When daycares operate without strict standards and adequate control mechanisms, the state is in fact failing to fulfil its due diligence obligations.

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The raid on a childcare facility in Umbulharjo, Yogyakarta, a few days ago has left an unease that is hard to ignore.

In a space that should be safe for babies and toddlers, authorities instead found allegations of inhumane treatment. Children entrusted by parents, who fully trusted the childcare services, are suspected of experiencing violence, and in certain conditions, were found bound.

This event not only shocked the parents who rushed to pick up their children but also raised questions about how safe the childcare spaces we have entrusted to others truly are.

When parents work from morning until night, daycare often becomes the only choice. However, that trust collapses instantly when stories emerge of fear, trauma, and invisible wounds.

The Yogyakarta case reveals one thing that is often overlooked. Violence against children does not always occur in brightly lit public spaces but rather in closed, private spaces that are hard to monitor. Young children are unable to speak out, cannot report, and have no power to resist.

Therefore, the issue of daycares can no longer be seen as an individual matter between parents and operators. When childcare spaces turn into risk zones, the problem shifts to a public issue concerning the state’s responsibility to ensure every child grows up in a safe, decent, and dignified environment.

Legal basis and state obligations