Most importantly, news surfaced in June 2020 of Jakarta Metro Police Criminal Investigation Unit having arrested Francois Abello Camille (FAC), alias Frans, 65, at a hotel room in Jakarta where two underage girls were kept.
The French citizen had allegedly molested at least 305 minors. He, however, later died in a police hospital after attempting suicide in Jakarta Police detention.
Although pedophile criminal died, police must continue investigations to catch those involved in supplying minors to predator.
Minister Bintang Darmawati Puspayoga had earlier confirmed that children were subject to forms of violence, including sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. However, almost 55 percent pertained to sexual violence, she noted.
While drawing reference to prevailing data and facts, minister expressed concern and called on one and all to give serious attention to children and their problems.
“This is since such data is (based on) reports. It means that number of actual cases could be far more than what meets eye,” she pointed out.
The minister reminded that efforts to safeguard children would be effective only if inter-sectoral institutions worked in tandem, which is in accordance with Law No. 35 of 2014 on child protection.
In addition to sexual abuse and violence, Indonesian children are also facing threat of COVID-19 pandemic.
The Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) highlighted trend of some 70 percent of children dying of COVID-19 being below six years of age.
“This is COVID-19 data on children collected until July 20, 2020,” IDAI Chairperson Dr Aman Bhakti Pulungan noted on July 23, 2020.
During period from March 17 to July 20, a total of 2,712 Indonesian children had tested positive for COVID-19, while 51 of them had succumbed to disease.
Moreover, number of children suspected of having contracted COVID-19 reached 7,633, of which 290 had died.
“Indeed, highest cause of mortality among children in Indonesia today is pneumonia. However, sadly, our COVID figure among children is higher than those of India, Myanmar, and Pakistan,” he pointed out.
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