Partnering schools now have Standard Operating Procedures to protect their students from sexual abuse.
This is a sad reality: sexual abuse against children occurs most often in the school environment. Data from the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) complaints shows that in 2018 there were 177 cases of sexual abuse in schools. The same institution reported that from January to April 2019, there were 35 complaints, 25 of which occurred in elementary schools (SD).
The perpetrators are usually people who the children know, including teachers and school staffs. The lack of information and knowledge can hinder the handling of these cases because parents, educators, and the community do not know how to.
Through discussions and trainings conducted by Yayasan CARE Peduli (YCP) for teachers and students, it was clearly revealed that violence/abuse had not yet become an issue of concern.
Girls who are survivors of sexual abuse often fall victim twice. Apart from experiencing the abuse itself, they are often judged by public and even expelled from school as they are considered to have defamed the school’s good name.
On the other hand, the development of internet and cell phones also increases the risk of sexual abuse against children. There are adults who become sexual predators of children and catch their victims using the internet. Meanwhile, images of child abuse are increasingly being exchanged online. It is not uncommon for children to send sexual messages and pictures to each other on their cell phones, without realizing it makes them vulnerable to risks of other abuse.
According to the Law on Child Protection, every child has the right to be protected from sexual crimes. This means that schools as a space for children’s daily activities should be a place that is comfortable and safe.
Thus, YCP and its partnering schools have developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to protect their students from sexual abuse. With this SOP, it is hoped that students are protected from sexual abuse and have their rights fulfilled.
This SOP contains how schools can prevent sexual abuse. Namely, by identifying student vulnerabilities and recognizing potential threats around children. In addition, educators and school staff need to be sensitive in responding to cases of sexual abuse. This is very important so that schools can quickly take appropriate action and in accordance with their students’ needs.
Schools also need to determine concrete steps when their students face sexual abuse. For example, who will assist the child in the process of psychological and legal recovery, as well as the mechanisms that needs to be enforced if an educator is proven to have committed an abuse.
The initiative of YCP and its partnering schools was positively appreciated by the stakeholders. “The development of this SOP is very good, because so far there has been no particular approach in schools for the prevention and handling of sexual abuse in schools,” said Achi Soleman from the Makassar City Office of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection.
Meanwhile, according to Asep Nugraha Jaya, Head of the Serang Regency Education and Culture Office, “Many cases of violence and abuse against children have occurred in Serang Regency, even in the school environment. We really need the mechanism regulated in this SOP, considering that Serang Regency is a Child Friendly Regency. This SOP is a tool for schools in efforts to prevent and deal with abuse against children. ”
Creating an SOP is actually part of the Promoting a Sustainable and Food Secure World (PROSPER) program implemented by YCP in Serang District and Makassar City throughout 2016-2019. The program’s focus is to improve children’s welfare through reducing cases of diarrhea and infectious diseases.
In this program, YCP builds clean water and sanitation facilities and organizes training and events on nutrition in partnering schools. YCP also promotes healthy and clean-living habits, such as proper hand washing and the importance of cleanliness of female reproductive organs during menstruation.
There are several advantages of this program over similar activities. First, local governments are involved strategically from the start, so that the process runs smoothly. Second, the construction of hardware, such as the construction of sanitation facilities, is accompanied by the development of software, namely through a series of trainings to increase knowledge related to a Clean and Healthy Lifestyle (PHBS) and nutrition.
After the three year intervention period, a lot of improvements occurred in partnering schools. It is now easier for students to access sanitation facilities as the ratio of students to functional school toilets has decreased from 125: 1 to 83: 1. Students and their parents have also become increasingly aware of the practice of healthy habits. Students who reported washing their hands at school increased by 16%, while parents’ awareness of the most critical hand washing times increased by 40%.
In addition, the percentage of students who did not attend school because of diarrhea has decreased significantly due to improved sanitation facilities and hygiene practices. The percentage of students who reported having diarrhea in the last two weeks decreased from 26% to 14%, while the percentage of children who reported being absent from school due to diarrhea also decreased from 69% to 50%.
In terms of capacity building for government and civil society organizations in clean water and sanitation programs in schools, at least 102 government officials have been trained to understand it more. Also, 20 clean water, sanitation and nutrition committees have also been formed.
Responding to the positive impact of PROSPER, Serang District allocated a budget for program replication in 29 schools per fiscal year 2018 and 2019, bringing the total to 58 schools. Together with Bone Regency, Serang Regency will be the location of PROSPER in the second phase which takes place in 2019-2022.
Promoting a Sustainable and Food Secure World / PROSPER
Objective: Iimprove children’s welfare through reducing cases of diarrhea and infectious diseases
Duration: Phase 1 September 2016-August 2019, phase 2 September 2019-August 2022
Location: Serang Regency, Makassar City, and Bone Regency
Number of beneficiaries as of February 2020: 14,221 people (7,755 of whom were women)
Funding support: Cargill