Gov’t to Add Women’s Empowerment, Child Protection Ministry’s Duties/Functions

Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmavati (wears purple blouse) before delivering a press statement at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Thursday (9/1). (Photo by: Jay/ PR)

In a limited meeting on the Handling of Violence against Children, Thursday (9/1), the Government has agreed to add duties and functions of the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, namely implementing the Government’s programs.

“The President has instructed to add duties and functions of the Ministry,- mandated in the Presidential Regulation Number 59 of 2015 on the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection-, from policy coordination and synchronization to policy implementation,” Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmavati said in a press statement after the limited meeting, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Thursday (9/1).

In that meeting, Gusti told President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo that the Ministry’s authorities on the handling of cases involving violence against women and children are limited since the PR 59/2015 stipulated that the duties and functions of the Ministry are policy coordination and synchronization only.

On the other hand, Online Information System for Women and Children Protection (Simfoni PPA) during the 2015-2016 period recorded that the number of cases involving violence against children, be it physical, sexual, and emotional violence, and neglect of children increased significantly.

“The reported cases of violence against children in 2015 were recorded at 1,975 and the figure jumped to 6,820 cases in 2016,” President Jokowi said in his introductory remarks at the limited meeting, added that violence against children is just the tip of the iceberg with only a few cases that were reported.

In the meantime, Head of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) Susanto asserted that the limited meeting also discussed the urge to issue a Regulation of the Ministry of Religious Affairs on the prevention and handling of violence in faith-based education establishment to follow up Regulation of the Ministry of Education and Culture Number 82 of 2015 on the prevention and handling of violence in education establishment.

“The President instructed Minister of Religious Affairs to issue the Ministry’s Regulation immediately,” Susanto stated.

He went on to say that preventing violence against children, including cyberviolence, is vital. ”That issue must become the concern of all related ministries/institutions,” he concluded. (HIM/JAY/ES)

Translated by : Rany Anjany
Reviewed by : Muhardi/Yuyu Mulyani