The government is intensifying its focus on child safety in digital spaces following a recent surge in bullying cases, particularly those occurring within school environments. This heightened commitment involves strengthening the national child protection system through a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder approach that actively engages families, schools, media, and all levels of government, from central to local authorities.
Veronica Tan, Vice Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (Wamen PPPA), underscored the critical importance of collaborative efforts in fortifying the entire child protection ecosystem. She asserted that initiatives aimed at preventing bullying cannot truly succeed if implemented in isolation or without a unified, collective commitment from all involved parties.
“While we frequently hear about bullying prevention in a normative sense, the real challenge lies in transforming it into a shared responsibility,” Veronica stated, as quoted by the Government Communication Agency in Jakarta on Monday, November 24. “It’s not about working alone; it absolutely requires the active participation of families, parents, government bodies, institutions, and the wider community.” This quote emphasizes the need for a collaborative approach to tackling the pervasive issue of bullying.
Furthermore, Veronica highlighted the urgent necessity of enhancing digital literacy for both children and parents, alongside strengthening the oversight of information disseminated across social media platforms. She stressed that the family’s role is paramount in cultivating healthy digital habits, while the government remains dedicated to expanding public education to mitigate the inherent risks present within the digital sphere.
She also extended an invitation to the media, urging them to ensure that all public narratives concerning children consistently champion the best interests of the child and refrain from exacerbating their psychological well-being.
“Ideally, a comprehensive public communication guideline, rooted in a child protection perspective, should be developed,” she suggested. “This guideline would serve as a unified reference point for the government, educators, the community, and even the media when conveying information related to children.” This underscores the vision for a consistent, child-centric communication strategy.
Moving forward, Veronica underscored that a child-friendly school culture must form the fundamental bedrock for preventing both violence and bullying. It is imperative that all members of the school community—from principals and teachers to the students themselves—actively collaborate to foster an environment that is both safe and inclusively welcoming for everyone.
“In the education sector, we are actively promoting the implementation of Child-Friendly Educational Units,” she affirmed. “These units are crucial as the foundational building blocks for establishing a school culture that is inherently safe, nurturing, inclusive, and entirely free from violence.”
Concurrently, the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) announced its ongoing commitment to meticulously monitor media coverage that could potentially reveal the identities of Children in Conflict with the Law (ABH). KPAI Chairman, Margaret Aliyatul Maimunah, emphatically reiterated that safeguarding the confidentiality of a child’s identity is not merely a legal mandate but also a collective responsibility shared by all stakeholders.
“It is our duty to assist these children, ensuring they do not face further stigmatization or lose their sense of identity due to extensive negative media reporting,” Margaret elaborated. “This undeniably requires support from everyone. When we refer to the Child Protection Law, it clearly states that the obligation to provide protection and ensure their related rights are fulfilled is, in fact, a responsibility we all share.”
She clarified that this vital protection extends beyond children who are in conflict with the law, also encompassing child witnesses and child victims.
“Therefore, this principle of protection is not solely for children in conflict with the law,” she continued. “It equally applies to child witnesses and child victims, who also require protection regarding the confidentiality of their identities. Moreover, they must receive appropriate accompaniment throughout any ongoing legal proceedings.”
In conclusion, the government firmly reasserted its unwavering commitment to ensuring a safe digital environment for children. This commitment will be realized through sustained cross-sector collaboration, continuous enhancement of digital literacy, strengthening of educational units, and rigorous oversight of all media coverage involving children.
Summary
The government is intensifying its focus on child safety in digital spaces to combat the recent surge in bullying cases, particularly within schools. This commitment involves strengthening the national child protection system through a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder approach engaging families, schools, media, and all government levels. Veronica Tan, Vice Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, emphasized the crucial role of collaborative efforts, enhanced digital literacy for children and parents, and the cultivation of a child-friendly school culture.
Concurrently, the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) is committed to monitoring media coverage to meticulously protect the identities of Children in Conflict with the Law, as well as child witnesses and victims. KPAI Chairman, Margaret Aliyatul Maimunah, affirmed that safeguarding a child’s confidentiality is a legal mandate and a collective responsibility to prevent further stigmatization. This overarching strategy includes continuous cross-sector collaboration, digital literacy enhancement, strengthening educational units, and rigorous oversight of media coverage involving children.
