Promoting Cross-Sector Collaboration, Freddy Purnomo Highlights Violence Against Children

The East Java DPRD Collaborates with Academics and Child Protection Institutions

SURABAYA — Violence against children in East Java continues to be a serious concern among lawmakers. The East Java DPRD has partnered with academics and child advocacy institutions to reinforce child protection efforts amid persistently high rates of violence against children.

Advisor to the Golkar Party Faction of the East Java DPRD, Freddy Poernomo, stressed that child protection cannot rely solely on legal instruments. According to him, cross-sector collaboration is essential to ensure that child protection policies are implemented effectively and sustainably.

"This is a form of collaboration between the DPRD and the Indonesian Children Foundation under the coordination of academics. The objective is to strengthen child protection in support of building a golden generation in the era of disruption,” Freddy stated in Surabaya on Tuesday (05/05/2026).

The member of Commission A of the East Java DPRD explained that the initiative involved experts from various disciplines to discuss violence against children from a comprehensive perspective.

Integrating Legal, Social, and Psychological Perspectives

Freddy noted that several speakers participated in the discussion, including Prof. Mia Amiati, former Chief Prosecutor of East Java; Prof. Emy Susanti from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Airlangga University; and Prof. Astrid Regina from the Indonesian Clinical Psychology Association.

“The speakers provided legal, social, and psychological perspectives regarding the increasing prevalence of violence against children in this era of disruption,” he explained.

According to Freddy, the collaboration aligns with the enactment of East Java Regional Regulation (Perda) No. 8 of 2025, which serves as an enhancement of previous child protection regulations. The regulation governs prevention measures, case handling, and victim recovery mechanisms related to violence against children.

“Regulations alone are insufficient if stakeholders are not actively involved. That is why synergy with academics, psychologists, and the community is essential,” he emphasized.

Child Violence Threats Becoming Increasingly Complex in the Digital Era

Freddy observed that forms of violence against children have become increasingly complex. Beyond physical and sexual violence, children are now also exposed to psychological abuse, neglect, and bullying, both in social environments and digital spaces.

He also highlighted the negative impacts of technological advancement and social media exposure on children. According to him, uncontrolled digital content has the potential to lead children toward harmful behaviors, including online gambling and narcotics abuse.

“This must become a shared concern. We cannot allow our children to become victims, because they are the nation’s future golden generation,” Freddy asserted.

The East Java DPRD Encourages Concrete Actions for Child Protection

The East Java DPRD hopes that efforts to strengthen child protection will not remain limited to conceptual discussions, but will instead be translated into concrete actions involving all elements of society.

“Through this initiative, the East Java DPRD hopes that child protection efforts will truly be implemented through tangible actions in the field, supported by collaboration among all stakeholders,” he concluded.