Yogyakarta Forms Psychological Support Team for Childcare Abuse Victims
Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - The Yogyakarta City Government will soon form a team to provide psychological support to children who are victims of violence and neglect at the Little Aresha Daycare in Sorosutan Village, Umbulharjo, a childcare facility that was raided by police some time ago.
Yogyakarta Mayor Hasto Wardoyo, after receiving an audience from the victims’ parents in Yogyakarta on Sunday, stated that in principle, the parents are requesting protection for their children, including psychological support for the children who have experienced violence and neglect at the daycare.
“Because the children now show some signs of being psychologically unhealthy, we have discussed with the KPAI (Indonesian Child Protection Commission), and the relevant agencies will immediately hold a meeting after this to form a support team,” he said.
According to him, the psychological support team to be formed will involve various necessary experts, such as child psychologists, child development experts, nutritionists for children’s intake, including parenting experts.
“We have noted the treatments indicated to have been carried out on their children. We are also very saddened by their sadness, because what they described makes us as parents able to imagine what it is like for children who cannot protest, and children who do not yet have a ‘bargaining position’ but are subjected to such treatment,” he said.
He stated that from the audience, the parents are also experiencing disturbances due to stress from the shocking condition, so the parents cried and requested psychological support for themselves.
“Therefore, we are also preparing support together, and we have clinical psychologists at community health centres, with 18 psychologists available, which we will prepare,” he said.
He stated that the actions taken by the police to act quickly by raiding the daycare on Friday (24/4) and conducting a marathon examination of the managers are highly appreciated, and he hopes the legal process will continue.
“I think the Chief of Police has acted very creatively and quickly; we appreciate it. Then, regarding the parents present here, we will also bring in others tomorrow who wish to attend and voice their complaints,” he said.