President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has called for strict law enforcement against perpetrators of violence against children, including sexual abuse and physical and verbal forms of violence.

“I guess strict law enforcement, is the responsibility of all of us to prevent it from recurring,” the president stated after chairing an event to commemorate National Children’s Day at the Bogor Botanical Garden, West Java Province, on Saturday.

Those committing violence against children must be legally processed in line with the existing regulations to prevent other cases of violence against children in whatever form, he stressed.

“I guess all of them, whomsoever they are, should be processed. There should be no verbal violence, no bullying, no physical violence, no sexual violence. All of those acts are not allowed according to the regulations. And it has punishment (consequences),” he stated.

On the occasion of National Children’s Day commemorated every July 23, President Jokowi reminded adults to not have overly high aspirations of children.

Children should be allowed to be active and creative in their world, he stated.

“I like to see children being happy with various (forms of) creativity by showcasing their activities. I think that is actually the world of children. Do not force children to follow the wishes of adults too much, as children are children. Their world is the world of children,” he remarked.

Source: Antara News