PROTECTION OF ACEHNESE CHILDREN
KBRI Ottawa- The devastating disaster which struck Indonesia on December
26, 2004, has left an estimated toll of 35,000 numbers of children with
dead or missing parents.
- The Government of Indonesia duly notes the severity
of this matter in regards to the orphans. In this connection, the
Government of Indonesia is determined to spearhead efforts to ensure
the well being of the children left orphaned in the aftermath of the
catastrophe. This effort is in line with the obligation of the
Government of Indonesia as stipulated in the national constitution
article 34. The Government of Indonesia stresses that the best interest
and well being of the orphans should be the main consideration in this
issue.
- In this regard, The Department of Social Affairs of
the Republic of Indonesia has established several steps to protect
children that have been affected by the disaster, as follows:
- Stage 1: Preliminary Approach (identifying and registering the orphans)
- Stage 2: Assessment (assessing physical and psycho-social difficulties faced by the orphans)
- Stage 3: Temporary Care (through trauma centres, child shelters, child social protection agencies)
-
Stage 4: Referral (includes several options: for children with missing
parents the government will try to locate and reunite them with their
parents and for the orphans the government will take measures to
reunite them with their extended family, or placed in orphanage, or
acquire foster parents, or as a last resort: adoption)
The contact details of The Child Social Protection Agency in North Sumatra is as follows :
Rumah Perlindungan Social Anak (Child Social Protection Agency)
Jln Williem Iskandar No. 377, Medan, Sumatera Utara (North Sumatera)
Telp. 62-61-6613305
Cell. Phone : 08129856067 atau 08126076831
e-mail : pusdatin@depsos.go.id -
The Government of Indonesia is of the view that the welfare of the
orphans would better be served by entities within Indonesia. The
government strongly supports the suggestion that orphans of the
affected areas in Aceh be taken in by members of the Acehnease
community residing in various cities accross Indonesia. Another option
the government support is for the orphans to be taken under the care of
various regional governments in Indonesia.
- Measures taken on this matter is within the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which has been ratified by the Government of Indonesia.