National Children’s Day: Children Must Become Indonesia’s Development Focus

Minister for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Yohana Yembise attends celebration of the National Children’s Day, in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Tuesday (23/7). (Photo by: Ministry for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection PR)

Minister for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Yohana Yembise in the 2019 National Children’s Day asserted that children must become the focus of Indonesia’s national development.

“Children have equal rights to develop healthily, enjoy a full and decent life, as well as to live in a safe, comfortable and happy environment,” the Minister said in her remarks during the celebration of the National Children’s Day, in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Tuesday (23/7).

Yohana went on to say that the country must take the necessary steps to improve the quality of the children since they are the future leaders of our nation.

She also encouraged thousands of children attending the event to do positive things, among others, study diligently, read a lot of books, pray, respect their parents, be good friends, and continue to make achievement.

The Minister also called on all parents to protect their children and keep their spirits alive by establishing a warm, comfortable, and pleasant environment.

During the celebration, two students as the representatives of Indonesian children declared this year’s Voice of Indonesian Children which reads:

We, the children of Indonesia will:

1. Encourage families in Indonesia to give guidance and provide supervision to abandoned children;
2. Support the Government in manifesting regulatory alignment to laws on minimum age of marriage;
3. Ask the Government to tackle stunting by increasing dissemination of information on stunting to the families and realizing equitable development of health facilities and increasing access to health services;
4. Encourage all Indonesian people to limit the use of disposable plastics and promote waste to energy project;
5. Encourage the Government, teachers, and all Indonesian people to enhance their understanding on mental health;
6. Support the Government in realizing equitable development of educational facilities and infrastructure to optimize education system;
7. Reject all forms of discrimination against children at school, environment, and social media;
8. Reject all forms of child exploitation;
9. Cooperate with the Government to improve education on disaster preparedness for children;
10. Ask the Government and the public to increase their attention to children with special needs and children dealing with legal problems in all aspects of life;
11. Ask the Government to increase the issuance of Child Identity Cards and birth certificates throughout Indonesia.

On that occasion, Minister Yohana, on behalf of the Government of Indonesia, and Minister of Family, Labour, and Social Services of the Republic of Turkey signed an agreement to enhance cooperation on women empowerment, child protection, and social services programs. The agreement will be effective for two years as of the date of the signing. (EN/ Ministry of for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection PR/ES)

Translated by : Rany Anjany Subachrum
Edited by : Mia Medyana Bonaedy