Protecting children and their rights

Protecting children and their rights El-Mostafa Benlamlih ;  The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Indonesia

JAKARTA POST, 03 November 2012

The widely discussed case of the young schoolgirl from Depok who reported being raped after an online encounter raises a number of important questions that call for serious attention.  The United Nations family, concerned with the health and welfare of children, believes that children must be safe when online.  In this context, we applaud efforts being taken by the government of Indonesia to create a safe digital environment for children, that balances the need for children and young people to have extensive access to information and recreational opportunities in the virtual world with their right to be safe and protected while there.  The Internet is a valuable resource for children — for learning, for leisure and for social contact — and we all have a role to play in ensuring that children can benefit from its opportunities while being aware of the potential risks that sadly still exist online. It is important that every report of rape or abuse of a child is accepted as legitimate and is fully investigated. Children must have the confidence to report such violations with the knowledge that their account will be believed and acted upon by adults.  Some of the issues facing children today are, undoubtedly, complex and sensitive. But we cannot ignore them. For example, children must have accurate knowledge and understanding of health issues, including an understanding of sexual issues that is appropriate to their age.  We have a choice between letting children find their own way through the clouds of partial or inaccurate information that they will discover from various sources, or taking on the challenge of providing comprehensive, clear, well-informed and scientifically-grounded sexuality education and life skills based on the universal values of respect and human rights.  Parents, families and communities have a vital role to play in shaping the way children and young people understand their identities — but in a context where ignorance and misinformation can be life-threatening, sexuality education and life skills are also part of the responsibility of the education system. Teachers should work in partnership with parents and communities to ensure the protection and well-being of the children and young people who so often look to them for guidance. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Indonesia was among the first countries to ratify, sets out the fundamental rights of children — including those to learning, leisure and recreation, good health, and protection from harm in an environment free from abuse, exploitation and violence.  The Committee on the Rights of the Child, which monitors implementation of the Convention, has called upon countries to implement appropriate measures that promote the health and development of adolescents — including finding ways in which sexuality, sexual behavior and risky lifestyles can be openly discussed, and to promote acceptable solutions that respect young people’s rights.  This was also a key message from Michel Sidibé, the executive director of UNAIDS, during his recent visit to Indonesia. We believe that is the challenge facing us today, but it is a challenge that is important for Indonesia to address as it continues on its path to being a world leader.  We cannot ignore the serious issues that face children today in Indonesia, and we must encourage the creativity and thirst for knowledge of our young people in an environment in which they are safe, secure and respected. The case of the young girl from Depok should remind us all of why that collective responsibility is so important. ●