Indonesia's National Commission for Child Protection (KPAI): Reports of Child Physical Abuse Dominated in 2021

The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) received 2,982 public complaints regarding child protection cases in 2021. Of these, 1,138 cases—the largest number—involved children reported as victims of physical and/or psychological violence.

These cases of physical and psychological violence included 574 cases of assault, 515 cases of psychological violence, 35 cases of murder, and 14 cases of children injured in brawls. The perpetrators of physical and/or psychological violence against the victims were generally people known to the victims, such as friends, neighbors, teachers, and even parents.

KPAI notes that various factors underlie cases of children becoming victims of physical and/or psychological violence in Indonesia. These factors include the negative influence of technology and information, permissiveness in the socio-cultural environment, poor quality of parenting, family poverty, high unemployment rates, and child-unfriendly housing or living conditions.

In addition to physical and psychological violence, 859 cases of children were also reported as victims of sexual crimes. There were also 345 cases of children as victims of pornography and cybercrime.

Furthermore, 175 cases of children were reported as victims of abuse and neglect, and 147 cases of children were victims of economic and/or sexual exploitation. Meanwhile, there were 126 cases of children involved in the legal system as perpetrators.