The attention to child protection given by the Government and the society is considered not sufficient. This issue became the global concern after the ratification of Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRS) in 1979.
This year the CRC is celebrating its 30th years. Indonesia ratified the Convention in 2002 by issuing the Child Protection Law. Subsequently, Aceh and South Sulawesi provinces issued Child Protection Bylaws.
“Regulations on the rights of the child are already stated in a number of state policies, such as those on Health, Education, Anti-Trafficking, Manpower etc,†said Prof. Dr. Muhadjir Darwin, Thursday (12/11).
The statement was delivered by the lecturer in the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences during the Policy Corner event held by the Center for Population and Policy Studies, which was attended by lecturers, students and observers.
The CRC containing 54 articles that are grouped into five clusters, which are civilian rights and fundamental freedom, rights in family and alternative guardianship, rights in health, nutrition and sanitation, rights in education, leisure and cultural activities and rights in special protection. In general, the CRC, the Law and Bylaws on Child Protection stipulate that children have the rights in all of those clusters, which should be respected, protected and fulfilled. “Efforts have been made by the state to meet them. Examples are the establishment of the committee for Child and Woman Protection at the central and regional levels,†said Muhadjir.
National Human Rights Commission for Children should also be established in addition to the development of social programmes in education and health to improve the welfare of children and the fulfillment of their rights. “Periodically, celebrations of Child’s Day are held, preceded by regional and national congress for children as well as those in child-friendly regions,†he said.