Author: Aulia Rachmah Putri

On 21 July 2022, the INKLUSI Secretariat team together with the Indonesian Family Planning Association (PKBI) Kupang had the opportunity to visit LPKA Kupang. That night, the children assisted by the Kupang Juvenile Correctional Center (LPKA) held an art performance to commemorate National Children’s Day which falls on July 23 every year. Assisted by LPKA supervisors and several students who acted as volunteers, the assisted children built tents in the LPKA field to spend the night there.

Donning the LPKA uniform, the LPKA children gathered and presented art performances such as a play, stand-up comedy, musical, and dance performance. At the end of the performances and after dinner, a vote for the most entertaining performance was held.

Currently, Kupang LPKA is hosting 24 children, one of which is a girl. The girl with the initials M was only 15 years old when she arrived at Kupang LPKA in October 2021. M was put into Kupang LPKA and charged with murder – which ironically she did in self-defense as she was about to be raped. This case left M to be under the threat of 7 years of imprisonment. Currently, M’s case is being reviewed and it is hoped that the sentence will be reduced. The review is assisted by the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection.

M said that she was initially offered to be transferred to a women’s correctional facility. However, M rejected the offer as she feels safer being with friends her age at the LPKA. M also shared that she’s learning handicrafts at LPKA.

“I hope that after I’m released, I can have a business, become a seamstress, and just help my parents,” said M when she was asked about her aspirations. M’s aspirations had changed. Before being put into the LPKA, she was once dreaming to be a doctor. “Now, not anymore,” said M.

M’s case was only one out of the many stories at LPKA. National Children’s Day shouldn’t just be a celebration, but also a reminder that many children are still in need of protection; that we still have a great deal of work to do together for children’s protection.