Experts of the Committee on the Rights of the Child Commend Indonesia on Child-Friendly Cities, Raise Questions on Mandatory Hijab Rules in Some Schools and the Prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation
The Committee on the Rights of the Child today concluded its review of the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of Indonesia, with Committee Experts commending the State on child-friendly cities, while raising questions on mandatory hijab rules in some schools and how the country was tackling the high levels of female genital mutilation.
Philip Jaffe, Committee Vice-Chair and Taskforce Member, said there had been many advancements in recent years to support children’s laws in Indonesia, including the national developmental planning, and the ambitious long-term “golden Indonesia” plan. It was pleasing to see there were child-friendly cities included within this plan. As of 2023, 459 out of 514 municipalities had conducted evaluations concerning child rights clusters which should be rejoiced.
Mr. Jaffe noted that the Committee was concerned about discrimination based on religion; could the State comment on situations of enforced mandatory hijab rules, even for non-Muslim girls, in some provinces?
Thuwayba Al Barwani, Committee Vice-Chair and Taskforce Member, said it was disturbing that 24 provinces had forced girls to wear the hijab and that those who did not were forced to leave school, and it was estimated that around 150,000 schools still enforced this rule. Was this decision left to the provinces to apply?
Suzanne Aho, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, said the Committee had received information that some women were carrying out female genital mutilation on infants of three or four months old. Was there a body which had the authority to prevent this and to prosecute these midwives? It seemed not enough action was being taken to put an end to these abusive practices. Another Expert asked if there had there been any court decisions prosecuting the practice of female genital mutilation? A Committee Expert said there seemed to be little evidence that programmes for female genital mutilation were having an effect. How did the Parliament ensure laws in this regard were implemented?
Concerning the hijab, the delegation said the incident which had occurred in a public school did not reflect national policy in any way, and the Government had acted swiftly in response. Following the incident, three Ministries issued a joint ministerial decree which ensured that no student, teacher or school staff were forced to wear religious attire against their will. The policy aimed to uphold national unity, religious tolerance and freedom belief. The Government had also consistently emphasised the importance of creating a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students.
The delegation said Indonesia recognised that female genital mutilation was a critical issue affecting the health and wellbeing of Indonesian women and girls, with a regulation specifically forbidding this practice. An action plan from 2020 to 2030 facilitated cooperation between the Government, civil society and community leaders, and incorporated a robust monitoring framework to ensure effective and sustainable interventions. Since 2021, Indonesia had systematically collected data on female genital mutilation, and the latest survey indicated a decrease from around 50 per cent in 2021 to around 48 per cent. Nowadays, the coordination of efforts to prohibit female genital mutilation was becoming stronger, with many sectors supporting this cause.
Introducing the report, Muhammad Ihsan, Assistant Deputy for Policy Formulation and Coordination for Child Protection, Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection of Indonesia, said currently, Indonesia was implementing the national human rights action plan for 2021–2025, which identified children as one of the priority groups that required targeted protection and policy intervention. The adoption of law no. 12 of 2022 on the crime of sexual violence represented a major step forward in strengthening legal protection for children from sexual violence by holding perpetrators accountable. Since the amendment of the marriage law in 2019, which raised the minimum legal age of marriage to 19 for both men and women, Indonesia had also taken concrete preventive measures, including the enforcement of the national strategy for the prevention of child marriage.
In closing remarks, Rinchen Chopel, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, congratulated the delegation of Indonesia for the productive dialogue. The establishment of the Ministry of Human Rights would go a long way in reinforcing the current institutions in place and disseminating the Committee’s concluding observations.
In his closing remarks, Munafrizal Manan, Director-General for Human Rights Services and Compliance, Ministry of Human Rights of Indonesia, said the Ministry was a new entity in the current administration which aimed to ensure the protection, promotion and fulfilment of human rights. Indonesia’s participation underscored the strong commitment of the Government to the protection of children’s rights in the country.
The delegation of Indonesia was comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Human Rights; the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection; the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of National Development Planning; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Coordinating Ministry of Political and Security Affairs; the Coordinating Ministry for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correction; and the Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here. The programme of work of the Committee’s ninety-ninth session and other documents related to the session can be found here.
The Committee will next meet in public at 3. pm on Thursday, 15 May to begin its consideration of the combined fifth and sixth periodic report of Iraq (CRC/C/IRQ/5-6).
Report
The Committee has before it the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of Indonesia (CRC/C/IDN/5-6).
Presentation of Report
ACHSANUL HABIB, Ambassador, Chargé d'affaires a.i., Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, expressed appreciation to all members of the Committee for engaging with Indonesia in the constructive dialogue on the promotion and protection of the rights of children in the country. Mr. Habib then introduced the delegation. Indonesia’s participation in the dialogue reflected the State’s commitment to upholding its obligations under the Convention.
MUHAMMAD IHSAN, Assistant Deputy For Policy Formulation and Coordination for Child Protection, Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection of Indonesia, said the fulfilment of the rights of the child continued to be a fundamental aspect of human capital development in Indonesia. Indonesia’s national priorities related to the rights of the child encompassed strategies such as the improvement of the quality of education, health, and nutrition; the expansion of social protection and child welfare; and the promotion of inclusive development, especially in frontier and least developed regions. These priorities were reflected in the 2025-2029 national medium-term development plan and the 2025-2045 long-term development plan.
To achieve these priorities, Indonesia had implemented key policies and programmes, including the free nutritious meals programme which provided daily balanced meals to school-aged children to combat malnutrition and stunting. Since its implementation in January 2025, the programme had reached 2.2 million school-aged children through 726 nutrition service units across 38 provinces, aimed at reaching 78.3 million school-aged children by the end of 2025. Another policy, the “Ruang Bersama Indonesia” or Indonesia shared space initiative, aimed to serve as a collaborative community platform to strengthen participation, protection, and educational spaces for women and children at the village level.
Currently, Indonesia was implementing the national human rights action plan for 2021–2025, which identified children as one of the priority groups that required targeted protection and policy intervention. The adoption of law no. 12 of 2022 on the crime of sexual violence represented a major step forward in strengthening legal protection for children from sexual violence by holding perpetrators accountable. Since the amendment of the marriage law in 2019, which raised the minimum legal age of marriage to 19 for both men and women, Indonesia had also taken concrete preventive measures, including the enforcement of the national strategy for the prevention of child marriage. This mechanism had proven effective with the decrease of the national child marriage rate from 10.35 per cent in 2020 to 6.92 per cent in 2023.
The Unit for the Crimes Related to Women and Children and Human Trafficking had been upgraded to a full-fledged Directorate under Indonesia’s National Police, further enhancing its capacity to investigate, respond, and prevent violence against children and women. The Government had established the Subnational Technical Implementation Units for the Protection of Women and Children across 38 provinces and 514 municipalities. The Units provided essential services, including temporary shelter, psychological counselling, health care, and legal support. To address gaps in protection at the local level, the Government was taking steps to advocate for sufficient budget allocations for child protection and provide capacity building and technical guidance for child protection professionals.
The Government was determined to strengthen online child protection at the national level and was adopting a comprehensive regulation that outlined medium-term measures to create a safer digital environment for children. Measures to regulate and guide the responsibilities of electronic system operators in upholding child safety standards were also being implemented. Efforts were also underway to enhance digital literacy among children and parents, equipping them with the knowledge needed to supervise and navigate online spaces safely.
Mr. Ihsan hoped the dialogue would result in valuable recommendations for Indonesia’s future endeavours to advance the rights of the child in the country, while taking into consideration religious, social and culture values.
Questions by Committee Experts
RINCHEN CHOPEL, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, said Indonesia used to be the leading country for healthcare in Asia; he had visited Indonesia in his previous professional career and had emulated their healthcare programmes in his country of Bhutan. The Committee was here as a partner to work towards creating a safer Indonesia for its children.
PHILIP JAFFE, Committee Vice-Chair and Taskforce Member, said there were 80 million children living in Indonesia. There had been many advancements in recent years to support children’s laws, including the national developmental planning, and the ambitious long-term “golden Indonesia” plan. It was pleasing to see there were child-friendly cities included within this plan. As of 2023, 459 out of 514 municipalities had conducted evaluations concerning child rights clusters which should be rejoiced. Was progress being made on the remaining 55 municipalities? What was being done beyond the evaluation in terms of implementation?
The Convention seemed to be the only human rights convention not ratified by law or enacted by parliament; what could be done about this? Could it be expected that Indonesia’s reservations to the Convention would be dropped? What efforts were being made to harmonise all legislation with the provisions of the Convention? Could the Government create the momentum needed for this harmonisation? Could more information be provided on the regulation regarding coordination on child protection?
What was the percentage of gross domestic product allocated to social protection? Were budgetary allocations tied to Indonesian child profiling, elaborated by the Indonesia Statistics entity? From reports, there was proportionately more budget being allocated to urban areas, between 15 to 20 per cent more; could this concern be addressed? How was data collection shared among ministries and integrated into policy? Were there any programmes to support the dissemination of the Convention at a national level, including in schools?
Were there complaints mechanisms in place for children in alternative care, schools and detention facilities? Where could children formulate complaints? Were there civil society organizations which could assist children in this regard? Were there any plans to ratify the Optional Protocol on the communications procedure? Had the Government been proactive in setting standards within the private sector in areas which affected children’s rights, including the agricultural sector and the tourism sector?
The Committee acknowledged that steps had been taken to reduce discriminatory practices, but had also received some disturbing information. How many dispensations were granted in the various provinces when it came to child marriage? What programmes were undertaken to reduce discrimination against children with disabilities? The Committee was concerned about discrimination based on religion; could the State comment on situations of enforced mandatory hijab rules, even for non-Muslim girls, in some provinces? What was being done to provide guidance to relevant authorities on the best interests of the child?
What was being done to assist Indonesian children who may be in camps in Syria? How many were left there? How many had returned? What was being done to integrate them? What was being done to reduce disparities in mortality rates in different areas, particularly rural areas? How much were children participating in the “golden Indonesia plan?”
There had been some great strides in birth registration, but there were also difficulties in remote areas, and around 10 to 15 per cent of children did not have complete birth certificates. How was this being addressed? What programmes had been put in place to combat religious intolerance?
SUZANNE AHO, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, said high levels of violence occurred against children in Indonesia via corporal punishment and torture. Regulations had been drawn up to deal with these issues, but were they actually implemented in practice? Did the population know about them? Were people responsible for violence against children punished by law? Was there a law in Indonesia which prohibited corporal punishment against children?
Could dispensations be used to circumvent the law and enact a child marriage? Why were so many dispensations given? The Committee had received information that some women were carrying out female genital mutilation on infants of three or four months old. Was there a body which had the authority to prevent this and to prosecute these midwives? It seemed not enough action was being taken to put an end to these abusive practices. Was there a law or legal provision focused on preventing the sexual abuse of children by tourists who came to Indonesia from other countries?
Was the helpline 129 accessible to children? Who ran this number and coordinated the calls and action taken? How were they trained? What had been done in Indonesia to tackle online sexual exploitation? Were there rehabilitation programmes for children who had been the victims of sexual exploitation? Were there specialised staff to help them? How many centres were available? How did children access these services? How were sexual predators punished? Were they deported from the country?
Was there a stipulated legal procedure for officially opening an orphanage? Were there certain conditions which needed to be met before an orphanage could be opened? Were orphanages subject to regular checks and supervision? In certain cases, could children return to their families from the orphanages? There were difficult situations for children living with disabilities who were sometimes subject to forced sterilisation. What was being done to protect those children? What support was given to the families of children living with disabilities?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said 55 Indonesian municipalities did not fulfil the 24 indicators which determined child-friendly cities. There was a team in place to assess this. Indonesia had a national coordinator who dealt with the monitoring and implementation of the Convention. Dispensations were typically given to children between the ages of 17 and 18 years old to allow them to be married. The State did not envisage many dispensations provided to children younger than these ages.
Indonesia’s commitment to advancing child health and wellbeing was reflected in its State budget. Substantial funding had been allocated to improving maternal health. In 2023, 64 per cent of children were covered by some form of health insurance. The number of neonatal deaths in Indonesia had decreased over the past 30 years. The three key causes of death were infection, respiratory and cardiovascular causes, and prematurity. Programmes were in place to address these key areas. All neonatal deaths in Indonesia were reviewed.
The Government was committed to ensuring that access to mechanisms for recovery was fulfilled for child trafficking victims. The oversight mechanism assigned specific roles and responsibilities to various ministries and government institutions. The arrest of child perpetrators by the police needed to be conducted in a humane manner, taking into account the child’s specific needs. Detention of children in the criminal juvenile justice system could only be carried out as a last resort.
The Indonesia Government recognised the suffering vulnerability of children associated with the foreign terrorist fighters, who were victims of circumstances beyond their control, often exposed to violence, exploitation and trauma. The State aimed to uphold their rights and protection. Around 400 Indonesian children and women resided in two camps in Indonesia. Repatriation was considered on a case-by-case basis based on security and the children’s needs. A taskforce had been established to handle issues associated with the foreign terrorist fighters, including taking responsibility for citizens abroad associated with this group.
Since its ratification of the Convention, Indonesia had made a significant effort to incorporate it into its legal system, most notably through the 2023 law on child protection. Indonesia’s National Police had established a Directorate for crimes against women, children and human trafficking. The Child Protection Commission had been established in four provinces.
The incident which had occurred in a public school did not reflect national policy in any way, and the Government had acted swiftly in response. Following the incident, three Ministries issued a joint ministerial decree which ensured that no student, teacher or school staff were forced to wear religious attire against their will. The policy aimed to uphold national unity, religious tolerance and freedom belief. The Government had also consistently emphasised the importance of creating a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students.
Indonesia had made significant legal advancement in protecting children from sexual exploitation, both offline and online. The child protection law expressly prohibited all forms of sexual exploitation against children and mandated that victims be provided with psychological and rehabilitation services. The law also criminalised grooming and other kinds of exploitation conducted online. Several policies had been adopted aimed at creating a safe tourism environment for children, including guidelines for the prevention of the exploitation of children in tourism settings.
Indonesia recognised that female genital mutilation was a critical issue affecting the health and wellbeing of Indonesian women and girls, with a regulation specifically forbidding this practice. An action plan from 2020 to 2030 facilitated cooperation between the Government, civil society and community leaders, and incorporated a robust monitoring framework to ensure effective and sustainable interventions. Since 2021, Indonesia had systematically collected data on female genital mutilation, and the latest survey indicated a decrease from around 50 per cent in 2021 to around 48 per cent.
A strategy emphasised the obligation of health workers, community leaders and families to protect women from the harmful practice, and a circular issued prohibited midwives from providing such services.
Indonesia’s regulatory framework prohibited corporal punishment against children, although there was no specific legal provision in this regard. The Minister of Education had issued a comprehensive policy in 2023 aimed at preventing and responding to violence in education settings. A taskforce had been established in 27 provinces with the aim of creating a safer educational environment. A regulation was issued regarding birth certificates for children of unknown origins and unregistered marriages.
In March 2025, the President of Indonesia launched the Government regulation on the governance of electronic system implementation in child protection to protect children in the digital space. The policy emphasised the presence of the State in creating a safe, child-friendly digital space.
Indonesia regularly held coordination meetings on the rights of the child, and reporting of the implementation of the Convention. The Ministry of Law and Human Rights took part in training programmes for law enforcement personnel on human rights. Out of the 382 courts in Indonesia, 377 courts provided child-friendly courtrooms. There were 23 child-friendly religious courts. Reporting of the implementation of the Convention was regularly provided to all stakeholders, at the national and provincial levels. The Ministry of Human Rights regularly conducted dissemination activities relating to human rights, and involved a children’s forum where they could have their voices heard.
Ensuring equitable access to health care services in all regions remained a national priority. Mobile health services and cluster island-based services, among others, were designed to overcome geographical barriers. Through the special doctor deployment programme, more than 600 paediatricians had been placed in Government-owned hospitals in underdeveloped regions. School operational assistance supported the funding of schools in the most remote regions, covering primary, secondary, speciality and vocational schools.
A process had been established for the reunification of children in alternative care. The Government extended assistance, including financial aid, to the child and their family to ensure a successful reunification.
The Government had taken significant steps to uphold the reproductive rights of persons with disabilities, particularly focusing on preventing forced sterilisation practices. The enactment of the sexual violence crime law, which explicitly prohibited forced contraception and sterilisation, requiring consent of the individual, was a landmark achievement in this regard. However, challenges remained, as reports indicated this practice was still found, particularly affecting women with psychosocial disabilities in care institutions. Efforts were being made to monitor and enforce compliance with the law, including through conducting monitoring of facilities and developing mechanisms to address violence.
Special protection was provided to children belonging to minority groups, enabling them to practice their own culture and religion and use their own language. If children from these groups experienced trauma and violence, the State was obligated to provide social rehabilitation.
Questions by Committee Experts
THUWAYBA AL BARWANI, Committee Vice-Chair and Taskforce Member, welcomed the enactment of the disability law in 2016. However, there was concern that its implementation was not translated into the national agenda. Were there any plans by the Government to rigorously implement and monitor regulations regarding the enactment of this law? There were reports that three per cent of children in Indonesia lived with a disability; had recent data been collected on disability? How was the Government planning to tackle the data issue for disability?
Reports indicated that at least 57,000 people in Indonesia had been shackled at least once in their lifetime. Was this accurate? Was the Government planning to fully ban this practice? What was being done to educate the country on the negative impacts of shackling on all persons, including children? What was the Government doing to improve the access of children with disabilities in the education system? What nutritional programmes were in place to address the issues of stunting and wasting of children with disabilities? What programmes were in place to support families with children with disabilities and encourage them not to send them to institutions but to keep them at home?
The steps taken by Indonesia to improve education were appreciated, but there was still more work to be done. What was being done to ensure that all children could complete their education? How was the Government increasing school enrolment and preventing dropout? Was there research which addressed the reasons that children and adolescents were out of school? What were the main obstacles which prevented the Government implementing the policy of free primary education?
It was disturbing that 24 provinces had forced girls to wear the hijab and that those who did not were forced to leave school, and it was estimated that around 150,000 schools still enforced this rule. Was this decision left to the provinces to apply? Was the decree by the three Ministries binding to all schools? What strategies were in place to ensure school retention and reintegration, particularly for victims of child marriages? How was the Government strengthening the quality of education, including by reforming its school curriculum? Was human rights education included in the mandatory school curriculum and in teacher training?
SUZANNE AHO, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, said poverty in the country was a major concern. Were there any measures envisaged to bring down the level of poverty? How many years was the programme providing food supposed to run?
RINCHEN CHOPEL, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, said there had been significant investment in Indonesia’s health sector since the 1990’s. However, in recent times Indonesia had been consistently underinvesting in its health sector. What was the ground reality like? What was being done to address regional disparities, including by improving health infrastructure and increasing the number of qualified health professionals? How were infant and young child feeding practices being promoted?
The high rate of early pregnancy was concerning, as was the criminalisation of abortion, except in cases of rape or danger to the mother. What measures were being adopted to provide free contraception and decriminalise abortion? Indonesia had capital punishment for trafficking of illegal drugs, but their use was on the rise by adolescents. What was being done to address this issue? HIV/AIDS represented a pressing issue in Indonesia; given Indonesia’s comprehensive approach to care, what was not working in this regard?
Indonesia was experiencing a high rate of suicide, but had limited access to services. What steps were being taken to tackle this issue? What could be done to further protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex children? Indonesia was one of the top 50 countries in the world where children were at risk of climate risk degradation, with 20 million exposed to coastal flooding and 15 million exposed to heatwaves. What was the current status of the national climate change policy and disaster contingency plans? Were they informed by child rights impact assessments?
It was encouraging that the State party hosted a large number of refugees, particularly Rohingya women and children. What was the mandate and capacity of the national taskforce on refugee response? What was the Government’s position on the 1951 United Nations Convention on the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol? What were the ground realities of children belonging to indigenous communities?
The Committee was concerned about the significant numbers of children engaged in child labour. What measures were being taken to effectively implement the existing laws, including those which prohibited the economic exploitation of children, including by establishing labour inspectorates? The adoption of the Presidential Regulation in 2023 on the national action plan for human trafficking was welcomed. How was it ensured that noncustodial sentences were taken for children whenever possible?
PHILIP JAFFE, Committee Vice-Chair and Taskforce Member, asked why Indonesia did not make a pledge at the ministerial conference in Bogota?
SUZANNE AHO, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, asked if training was provided to police and security services on the use of violence? Child marriages still seemed to be taking place on the island of Sumba; had the State been able to address the forced marriage situation there? Was there a way to speed up the birth registration process?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said medical and social rehabilitation were vital for child victims of violence. The implementation of the reintegration of children who had experienced violence included several stages, including preparing children to return to their families and to interact within their social environment.
Indonesia had taken significant strides to integrate the rights of persons with disabilities into its national planning. A dedicated programme for persons with disabilities outlined two key approaches on ensuring access to basic services and protection from violence, and ensuring an inclusive approach to development. The fragmentation of data on disability was compounded by the lack of a standard definition of disability across sectors. Indonesia’s unique geographical characteristics, particularly the remote areas, posed challenges for data collection and resulted in gaps in data coverage. Capacity building activities were underway to equip staff with the necessary tools and skills to better gather and analyse disability data.
The health law prevented any forms of violence or shackling against persons with disabilities. Such acts should be punished in accordance with law. In 2024, 1,794 cases of shackling had been reported with 23 of those being children. Awareness raising had become the main priority to combat shackling in Indonesia, as these practices were mainly conducted due to a lack of education and understanding of those with psychosocial disabilities.
Indonesia had introduced programmes to lower the prevalence of child wasting and stunting. As a result of these initiatives, stunting and wasting rates had fallen between the period of 2018 and 2023. A programme was in place to provide daily nutritious meals to school-age children to combat child malnutrition which remained prevalent in several regions. By 2029, the Government aimed to expand the programme to serve an estimated 83 million children daily, making it one of the most ambitious social schemes globally.
Since the rollout of the programme, student feedback had been an important element for the Government. The initial phase had attracted criticism from youth regarding taste, portion and variety, and the Government recognised this was not a trivial concern. Every meal served was carefully formulated by certified nutritionists and the Government was working to improve the points raised.
The sudden scale of the programme rollout had resulted in breaches in food safety protocols, including hygiene standards. The Government responded swiftly by deploying health inspectors to conduct evaluations and temporarily halted meal distribution pending safety clearance. Medical care and financial compensation were provided to victims and their families. Following this incident, standards had been introduced on food hygiene and the emergency protocol, a revised manual was issued for meal production, and a centralised digital platform was under development to support the programme and monitor incidents.
Indonesia was making strides in promoting breast feeding as a key strategy in reducing stunting and improving child nutrition. There were more than 4,000 breast feeding trainers across 38 provinces, with plans to increase this number. The draft ministerial regulation on exclusive breast feeding was currently being developed. These efforts were part of Indonesia’s commitment to ensuring every child’s right to nutrition.
In 1999, the Government ratified International Labour Organization Convention 138 concerning the minimum age of employment; the Government had set the minimum age of employment to 15 years, with an exception for 13-year-olds who were undertaking light work. Sanctions were in place for those who violated provisions for child labour, including prison for two years or heavy fines.
The 2025 to 2029 national development plan included a key indicator for preventing child labour, with the objective to reduce the child labour rate to 1.65 per cent by 2029. The Government was committed to protecting domestic workers, including through two laws enacted in 2017 and 2015 respectively, which prohibited the employment of domestic workers under the age of 18. The bill on the protection of domestic workers was included in the national legislation as a priority.
The national action plan on gender and climate change encouraged children’s participation and education on climate change related matters. The climate action campaign, which mobilised actions on air pollution and the water crisis, had engaged around 2,500 children. The resilient education framework aimed to make schools safer and better prepared during natural disasters. Guidelines had been published to ensure that children’s needs were prioritised in disaster preparedness efforts. The Government had expanded access to programmes aimed at strengthening teachers’ skills, subject matter expertise, and cultural sensitivity.
Indonesia had undertaken several initiatives in the spirit of international solidarity and commitment, including the regulation adopted in 2016 concerning the handling of refugees abroad. This regulation served as an operational guideline to ensure the protection and fulfilment of basic needs for refugees. As of December 2024, there were more than 3,000 refugee and asylum-seeking children residing in Indonesia, with 186 of them registered as unaccompanied. The State was committed to ensuring that refugee children had access to school age education. As of September 2023, 808 refugee children were registered in accredited public schools and more than 1,300 were involved in skilled training. The State had consistently provided humanitarian assistance to refugees and would continue to do so, and regularly participated in regional dialogues on the issue of shared responsibility.
Contraceptive drugs and methods could only be delivered by health workers and other trained personnel. The Government continued to strengthen the supply and distribution of contraception devices. Infrastructure was being improved to provide unhindered access for those in remote areas. Pregnant students’ right to education was fulfilled through the provision of alternative education offerings. To address the reproductive health needs of women and girls, the Government had established a clear legal and regulatory framework allowing abortion under strict circumstances. Abortion was allowed up to 14 weeks in cases where the mother’s life was at risk or in cases of rape.
Indonesia recognised that the early detection of HIV was critical in eliminating mother to child transmission. HIV services were being integrated into the broader maternal and child health framework through enhancing the capacities of healthcare workers to conduct early screening of HIV during the pregnancy and ensuring appropriate treatment. Between 2021 to 2024, the percentage of pregnant women tested for HIV rose from 51 per cent to 71 per cent. The positive rate among those tested was 0.2 per cent. The State ensured that all mothers living with HIV received the care they need to live healthy lives and raise healthy children.
The Government had initiated the funding of schools in remote areas. From 2021 to 2025, the total number of students enrolled in educational institutions rose from 39.4 million to 52.5 million, reflecting an increase of around 33 per cent. This significant growth reflected improved retention rates and a strong transition of children into a higher level of learning.
Questions by Committee Experts
RINCHEN CHOPEL, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, asked if Indonesia had already increased the age of criminal responsibility to 14? Regarding abortion, while rape and threat to the mother’s life was covered, the issues of incest and foetal impairment were not mentioned; could more information be provided? Indonesia had the highest rate of early pregnancy in south-east Asia, which was concerning, possibly due to barriers to contraception for children. This issue needed to be addressed. Was Indonesia aware of the Committee on the Rights of the Child’s general comment 36 on children’s rights and the environment, with a special focus on climate change? The Government was urged to study this general comment and roll it out.
THUWAYBA AL BARWANI, Committee Vice-Chair and Taskforce Member, said she had read a study which stated that poor families sent their children, especially girls, to Madrasas which taught only Islamic studies; what would be the fate and future of these girls? This perpetuated the poverty cycle.
SUZANNE AHO, Committee Expert and Taskforce Member, said there were children who had been detained with adults and became victims of violence in prison settings. Would the State aim to tackle the issue of female genital mutilation head-on? What was the State doing to combat child prostitution?
PHILIP JAFFE, Committee Vice-Chair and Taskforce Member, asked if the mandate of the Child Protection Commission only covered the promotion of children’s rights, or if children were able to make complaints? What was the difference between the child protection index and the Indonesian child’s profile? Were there efforts to make the helplines more accessible to children in remote areas? The National Commission on Violence against Women reported that 73 regulations of enforced hijab were still active in August 2023; what had happened since then?
A Committee Expert said Indonesia had a national action plan on human rights from 2021 to 2025; had there been any mid-term assessment or evaluation of this plan? Could the Convention and its protocols be invoked in national courts? Had there been any court decisions prosecuting the practice of female genital mutilation?
Another Expert asked if juvenile courts existed in Indonesia? What type of alternative care was offered to children who needed to be separated from their families? How were children of incarcerated parents supported?
A Committee Expert said there seemed to be little evidence that programmes for female genital mutilation were having an effect. How did the Parliament ensure that laws in this regard were implemented? Had there been programmes on positive masculinity in schools? Was HIV/AIDS screening mandatory before marriage?
Another Expert asked from what age could exceptions be provided for child marriage? How many girls had received these exceptions? Did the girls have an opportunity to oppose the decision? The children in the Syrian camps were suffering on a daily basis and needed to be repatriated urgently. When would they be repatriated and what programmes would be put in place to reintegrate them?
A Committee Expert asked what plans and strategies the Government had implemented to ensure strict regulations, better teachers’ training, and robust reporting mechanisms to protect children from violence and abuse in education settings?
Another Committee Expert asked if different cases were handled by different judges depending on the age of the child? Were there alternative penalties other than incarceration provided?
An Expert asked if the Government policy on protecting victims of crime, particularly sexual exploitation, had improved? Was there anything being done to specifically assist and rehabilitate victims of sexual violence?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Indonesia already had an effective complaints mechanism regarding the Convention. Access to justice was enhanced by a complaints channel established through the dedicated human rights communications surface. Since 2020, it had received around 2,800 submissions of complaints. The National Commission for the Protection of Children had a system which allowed anyone to submit their complaints through WhatsApp. Indonesia had proactively contributed to the Bogota ministerial conference by providing feedback on the document and participating in the conference. However, it was regretful that the document was not the result of a participatory project between all Member States of the United Nations, which was why Indonesia did not make a pledge during the conference.
There were 30 medical indications of abortion, and foetal impairment was one of the indications. Incest was included as an indication if it was determined that the girl had been unfit to provide consent, in which case it was considered as sexual violence. Indonesia had heard that one of the big community organizations had announced providing circumcision for boys and girls at an event; in response the Government had pushed the organization to cancel circumcision for girls with support from many sectors. Nowadays, the coordination of efforts to prohibit female genital mutilation was becoming stronger, with many sectors supporting this cause.
The national human rights action plan was one of the national policies of the Indonesian Government in realising the fulfilment, respect and enforcement of human rights. It was designed to respond to the society’s evolving human rights conditions. The current plan had targets in four groups consisting of women, children, persons with disabilities, and indigenous groups, with measures outlined for each group to ensure equality was achieved.
There were challenges regarding the foreign terrorist fighters, as many identification documents had been burned. At the Indonesian border, there was an evaluation of individuals and the security situaiton on the ground. The Indonesian Government needed to ensure security for the children and those facilitating their repatriation. All Ministries were involved in the reintegration, rehabilitation and de-radicalisation of returnees. A programme was in place to help children recover from trauma, facilitate their reintegration in Indonesian society, and combat religious ideologies. All repatriations needed to be carried out with the best interests of the child in mind, including keeping in mind if it was in their best interests to be separated from adults.
Indonesia did not tolerate underage marriage; while cultural traditions were respected, they needed to respect human rights principles. Child marriage was prevalent in Sumba, and the Government was working intensively with the community and community leaders to tackle this issue, including by conducting awareness raising campaigns.
The annual budget for legal aid had been elevated in 2025. Madrassas were part of the religious-based schools and were equal to public schools. Their curriculum followed the national system of education. Two ministries, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Religious Affairs, were responsible for education, and directed the schools under their authorities to establish taskforces to deal with the issue of violence at school.
The child protection law affirmed the right of all children to be raised by their parents, with separation only enacted as a last resort. The correctional nutrition house programme had been introduced to prevent stunting at an early life stage and empowered incarcerated women with knowledge in nutrition.
The National Narcotics Board had been conducting activities on drug usage, targeting students. The prevention programme for juveniles in youth correctional centres included anti-drug awareness, with at least one session per year conducted on a regular basis.
The Government had enacted the juvenile justice system law to ensure judicial processes were carried out in the best interests of the child. To ensure protection, incarcerated children were placed in separate settings from adults. Child cases were managed separately to avoid delays and children’s overexposure to court environments.
In 2015, eight Ministries signed a memorandum of understanding to create better synergy in accelerating the legislation for birth certificates, both for children in Indonesia and abroad. A circular had been issued to all health facilities mandating medical workers to provide information on birth registration and certificates at the time of birth. Outreach visits were conducted to the families of newborns to ensure their birth registration was processed. These measures ensured every newborn automatically received a birth certificate and national identity card.
Closing Remarks
RINCHEN CHOPEL, Committee Expert and Taskforce Coordinator, congratulated the delegation of Indonesia for the productive dialogue. The establishment of the Ministry of Human Rights would go a long way in reinforcing the current institutions in place and disseminating the Committee’s concluding observations. The Committee would continue to urge the Government to reconsider its decision not to ratify the Optional Protocol on individual communications. It was also concerning that Indonesia had not reported on the other two Optional Protocols since 2014; the Government was urged to do so urgently. Mr. Chopel wished the delegation a safe journey home and relayed the Committee’s good wishes to the children of Indonesia.
MUNAFRIZAL MANAN, Director-General for Human Rights Services and Compliance, Ministry of Human Rights of Indonesia, said the Ministry of Human Rights was a new entity in the current administration which aimed to ensure the protection, promotion and fulfilment of human rights. Mr. Manan extended sincere gratitude to the Committee for the collaborative and open dialogue. Indonesia’s participation underscored the strong commitment of the Government to the protection of children’s rights in the country. The delegation had taken note of the Committee’s comments and advice and would ensure they were translated into concrete actions. The State was committed to ensuring that children could enjoy their rights and reach their full potential.
ACHSANUL HABIB, Ambassador, Chargé d'affaires a.i., Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, conveyed appreciation to the Committee for the instructive engagement. The delegation would submit any extra responses within 48 hours, and looked forward to receiving balanced concluding observations and recommendations. Mr. Habib thanked all those who had made the dialogue possible.
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