Some 535 Cases of Child Sexual Abuses Record

Jakarta (Antara) - Almost 535 cases of sexual abuses of children have been recorded until July this year, Chairman of the National Commission for Child Protection Arist Merdeka Sirait said here on Tuesday. "The highest number is sexual abuses notably 535 cases or 52 percent of child-related cases. The number of physical assaults is 294 cases or 28 percent and psychological assaults 203 cases or 20 percent," Sirait said on the occasion of the National Children's Day which falls on July 23. Most of the perpetrators of the sexual abuses were people who are close to the victims, such as the victims' fathers, uncles, and neighbors, as well as school security guards. "The National Commission for Child Protection is trying to form working groups for child protection at the neighborhood levels," he said. The Commission has discussed the plan with the Jakarta administration's officials. The working groups are expected to help prevent child abuse. For that purpose, the people are urged to play active roles by preventing such abuses or reporting them to the authorities. The child abuse prevention is the responsibility of all parties including the government, the community and families, he said. (*)