UNAIR NEWS A controversial initiative by West Java Governor Kang Dedi Mulyadi (KDM), which sends students with behavioral issues to military barracks for character education, has sparked widespread public debate. While some applaud the effort as a means of instilling discipline, legal scholars specializing in child protection caution that the program warrants deeper scrutiny.
Zendy Wulan Ayu Widhi Prameswari, SH, LLM, a lecturer at Faculty of Law, warned that this approach could be problematic, particularly because it targets school-age children. From a child protection law standpoint, she said, the policy may conflict with core principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Indonesia has ratified.
Not child-friendly and lacking in participation
According to Prameswari, military barracks are fundamentally unsuitable as environments for children. 淪uch facilities risk violating children檚 rights to life, survival, and development. When children are placed in settings that fail to support their physical and emotional growth, the potential for both physical and psychological harm increases significantly, she stated.
She also questioned whether children had any meaningful input in the decision to participate. 淲ere their views genuinely considered, or were decisions made unilaterally by parents, schools, or the government? she asked pointedly.
Prameswari emphasized that disregarding children檚 voices could constitute a breach of their right to be heard, as outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Risk of discrimination
She also raised concerns about the potential for discrimination, underscoring the need for clearly defined criteria when labeling children as 渢roubled or 減roblematic.
淲e must be careful not to stigmatize. Without clear standards, these classifications could lead to discriminatory treatment that infringes on the child檚 right to fairness, she explained.
Advocating rights-based, rehabilitative solutions
As a more appropriate alternative, Prameswari recommended a child-centered approach that emphasizes prevention and rehabilitation. She highlighted the importance of identifying both risk and protective factors that influence behavior. 淭he government should focus on guidance and psychosocial support, ensure that children are involved in decision-making, and recognize them as rights-holders攏ot just subjects of punishment, she said.
She also stressed the importance of involving trained professionals攕uch as counselors and child psychologists攊n these processes. 淐haracter education should not be reduced to physical discipline. Children need to be empowered through strategies that take their backgrounds into account and uphold their rights, she added. 淥ne critical issue is who will be responsible for monitoring this program. Oversight is essential to ensure children檚 rights are fully protected, she concluded.
Author: Sintya Alfafa
Editor: Ragil Kukuh Imanto
