More than 51% of Violence against Children with Disabilities Occurs in Public Spaces

Casal dels Infants – Violence against children with disabilities remains a serious and deeply troubling global human rights concern. Nine out of ten people close to children with disabilities admitted that they have witnessed violence against them. This data was revealed during the commemoration of National Children’s Day (HAN) 2025, organized by Indonesia Joining Forces (IJF), a consortium consisting of six child-focused organizations: ChildFund International in Indonesia, Yayasan Plan International Indonesia, Save the Children, SOS Children’s Villages Indonesia, Terre des Hommes, and Wahana Visi Indonesia.

Voices of Children with Disabilities

At an event titled “Temu Anak Indonesia 2025: Inclusive, Meaningful, and Joyful” in Central Jakarta, the IJF Children’s Forum presented the results of both quantitative surveys and qualitative studies on the experiences of children with disabilities facing violence.

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More than 80 children from different regions, including children with disabilities, members of the Indonesian Children’s Forum, disability communities, and special schools (SLB), attended the event to share their voices and recommendations regarding the National Strategy for the Prevention of Violence against Children at both the national and ASEAN levels.

One of the most striking findings showed that 51.3 percent of violence occurs in public spaces, making it the riskiest place for children with disabilities.

Collective Commitment

Angelina Theodora, Chair of the IJF Committee and National Director of Wahana Visi Indonesia, emphasized the importance of this moment. She called on all parties to strengthen their collective commitment.

“This event reaffirms efforts to create a safe, inclusive, and violence-free environment for all children,” she said.

She added that IJF continues to encourage the government to take stronger action in ending violence against children. IJF specifically urges the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (KPPPA) and the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) to lead these efforts.

Forms of Violence Experienced

The study revealed that verbal and psychological/emotional violence are the most common forms of abuse experienced by children with disabilities. In addition, 3 out of 10 children with disabilities reported experiencing physical harm or other types of violence.

Susanti, Assistant Deputy for Child Protection in Special Conditions at KPPPA, stressed that every child has the right to grow optimally and be treated fairly. She noted that cases of violence against children are still like an iceberg phenomenon, requiring collective efforts.

“Children are highly valuable human resources who must be protected from all forms of violence, discrimination, and mistreatment,” she said.

Hopes from Children with Disabilities

One participant, Zakiya from East Jakarta, expressed her hopes directly. “As a child with a disability, we are three times more vulnerable to violence. My hope is that the government and stakeholders can respond more quickly so that we too can feel safe,” she said.

Resonating at the ASEAN Level

The forum provided a platform to share the results of children’s consultations on violence prevention. It also amplified their voices at both the ASEAN and global levels. Indonesian children will also deliver their messages at the Ministerial Meeting in Bogotá 2025.

Yanti Kusumawardhani, representative of the ASEAN Commission on the Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), emphasized the importance of listening to children’s voices. She urged stakeholders to pay closer attention to the perspectives shared by children.

“In ASEAN, we are becoming more accustomed to consulting with children because they are future leaders. Integrating their perspectives into regional action plans for eliminating violence against children is crucial,” she stated.

Education and Concrete Actions

Participants actively joined educational booths and games that focused on children’s rights and advocacy. They also explored learning tools designed for children with visual disabilities.

Through these activities, IJF hopes to enhance public understanding of the various forms of violence against children and strengthen the capacity to respond to cases swiftly and appropriately. It also aims to foster a collective commitment to creating a safer and more child-friendly Indonesia.

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