Indonesia records sharp rise in child abuse cases
Children s protection agency attributes the increase to lax laws, Covid-19 lockdowns
Rita Pranawati of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission has urged the Indonesian government to review child protection laws. (Photo: Indonesian Child Protection Commission)
Violence and other rights abuses committed against children in Indonesia rose sharply last year with more than 6,000 recorded cases, according to a government agency set up to protect child rights.
At least 6,519 cases of violence and exploitation occurred during 2020, a 49 percent increase on the 4,369 recorded cases in 2019, the Indonesian Child Protection Commission said.
In its annual report, the commission said abuses committed against children included physical and psychological violence, sexual abuse and human trafficking.