FAMILIES, MAIN GUARDIANS OF CHILDREN by Fardah

Jakarta, July 30, 2016 (Antara)- Since 1993, Indonesia has commemorated National Family Day (Harganas) every June 29 to recognize the important role of families in preparing future generation of the nation.

         This year,  the observance of the 23rd National Family Day was held in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, on July 30, at the presence of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and First Lady Iriana.

        "Families, as the main guardians of children, must make sure that its function to protect children is working. Violence against children must be stopped, and we must not tolerate it," the Head of State said before some 1,2 thousand people attending the event.

          This year's Harganas commemoration should provide momentum to strengthen the functions of families, he said, particularly religious, social, educational, reproduction, environmental and protective concerns.

         "If families could nurture productive ways of thinking and behavior, we will be able to produce Indonesia's golden generation, a generation of winners, a smart generation, a creative generation, an innovative generation, a productive generation, and a visionary generation," he said.

         The National Population and Family Planning Agency (BKKBN) outlined four major concepts during this year's Family Day.

        The four concepts are, respectively, families reuniting, interacting, empowering and sharing.

         Jokowi called for implementation of the four concepts in the daily lives of Indonesian families.

         The President also called for the protection of children from the negative effects of technology and consumerism.      
    "Children must be protected from the negative impact of technological development and consumerism," he said.       
    Although, this did not mean that children are prohibited from using technology and seeking information with it. Children must be advised to enjoy the positive uses of technology.

          Therefore, he urged parents to guide their children towards taking advantage of the positive and productive side of information technology.   
    "I also want to remind them of their important role in promoting character 'revolution' to make people become more optimistic and enjoy working hard, while becoming leaders, instead of followers," he said.            

    
 "It is within families that a person's character, mentality and mindset are built," he said.

         On the occasion, President Joko Widodo pinned medals of appreciation onto family members who have carried out family planning programs and made notable achievements.      
   "Keep on with your service, spirit and achievements to make the family development, population and family planning programs successful," he said.

          Among officials attending the event were Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani, BKKBN Chairman Surya Chandra Surapaty, and Minister/State Secretary Pratikno, Deputy Chairman of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) Farouk Muhammad, East Nusa Tenggara Frans Lebu Raya.

         A week earlier, on July 23,  Indonesia observed the National Children's Day  to remind every element in the community that children are the most valuable asset that have to be protected jointly.

        This year's theme of the Children's Day was "Stop Violence Against Children" as assaults and violence, particularly sexual ones, against children are still quite rampant in this country.   
   The government backed events for commemoration of the Day, however, were centered in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara Province, because the province witnesses a large number of child marriages.

         A declaration against child marriage was the subject of a campaign in 19 districts and cities of West Nusa Tenggara during the commemoration day.

         Besides, the Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry focused on three issues - sexual violence, child marriage and child prostitution, as it commemorated the Day this year.    
     Local district and provincial administrations across the country organized various activities to observe the Children's Day, which was commemorated for the first time in 1984.

          Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Children Protection Commission (KPAI), Susanto, expressed his hope in Jakarta that the National Children's Day would add momentum to intensify efforts for protection of children including when they are in school.

         According to the KPAI data, the number of violence cases against children in the country during the 2011-2015 had increased significantly.

        In  2011, the number was  2,178 cases, up to 3,512 cases in 2012,  4,311 cases in 2013 ,  5,066 cases in 2014, and  6,006 cases in 2015. From January to April 2016, there were 289 cases, or up 18 percent from the same period in the previous year.

     
Most of the cases were sexual violence. Ironically, many of the criminals were those close  to the victims, such as fathers, brothers, uncles, grandfathers, neighbors, or teachers.  Tragically, some of the criminals were children.

        Chairman of the National Commission for Protection of Children (Komnas PA)  Arist Merdeka Sirait said that main factors that caused violence were illicit drugs, alcohol, and pornography.

         He mentioned that over 10 Indonesian children were victims of physical or verbal violence or assaults, and around 58 percent of the cases were sexual violence.

        Last May, President Jokowi signed a government regulation aimed at dealing with an emergency situation as the number of cases of sexual violence against children were on the rise.

         The regulation allows enhanced sentence and additional sentences for sex offenders.

         The increased sentence includes an additional one third of a  sentence for criminal charges, death penalty, or life imprisonment, or a jail sentence, with a minimum punishment of 10 years and a maximum of 20 years. ***4***
(f001/a014)

30-07-2016 23:54:15