After winning the Madya category, Gunungkidul is still overshadowed by harassment and sexual abuse

KABARJAWA – Gunungkidul Regency has just made achievements at the national level. The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) officially awarded the title of Child Friendly Regency (KLA) in the Madya category on Friday (8/8/2025).

However, behind the awarding stage, the bitter facts ambush: the number of harassment and sexual abuse of children is still high, even occurring only a few days after the award.

The facts behind the child derivative regency award

The Social Service of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (Dinsos PPPA) of Gunungkidul Regency recorded 77 cases of violence against children throughout 2024, where children were the object of suffering.

Only four days after the awarding of the KLA Madya title, a father came to UPT PPPA Dinsos Gunungkidul on Tuesday (12/8/2025).

He reported the alleged rape experienced by his child by his own neighbor. This case immediately cut his heart, interrupting the euphoria of the recently received awards.

PPPA Dinsos Data shows a concern trend. During 2024, sexual violence dominated with 44 cases, followed by 27 cases of psychological violence, and 6 cases of physical violence.

In 2023, there were 55 cases, with the highest psychological violence of 26 cases, 19 cases of sexual violence, 5 cases of child neglect, and 5 cases of physical violence.

In 2022 it actually recorded a large surge: 84 cases of psychological violence, 47 cases of sexual violence, 2 cases of child neglect, and 1 case of physical violence, so that a total of 134 cases.

This note reveals that although various programs run, the number of violence against children is still lurking.

Handling is not optimal

The Head of the Gunungkidul Regency PPPA Social Affairs, Nurrudin Araniri, acknowledged that the handling of violence against children was not fully optimal.

Even so, he stressed that the local government always responded to every report that entered quickly through the PPPA unit.

“Gunungkidul Regency Government has struggled for seven years to reduce the number of violence in children. But in fact, the number of cases actually rises every year. Maybe that makes Gunungkidul takes a long time to rise from the category of Pratama to Madya,” Nurrudin said, Tuesday (12/8/2025).

Gunungkidul has a Handayani Family Service Center (Puspaga) which operates 24 hours. This service was established based on the Decree of the Regent of Gunungkidul Number 183/KPTS/2022.

The aim is to improve the quality of family life and support the KLA program in accordance with the mandate of Law No. 35 of 2014 concerning Child Protection.

Puspaga upholds five main principles: non-discrimination, the best interests for children and families, the right to life and child development, appreciation for the views of children, and ease of access to services.

In addition to counseling, Puspaga together with Social Affairs provided assistance in trauma healing, social rehabilitation, and legal assistance for victims and perpetrators.

They partner with hospitals for post mortem, to psychiatrists for victims in need.

“If the victim needs rehabilitation, we try. We will also do direct mentoring. Everything runs comprehensively,” said Nurrudin.

The predicate KLA Madya is indeed a form of appreciation of the central government for the efforts of the Gunungkidul Regency Government to build a child protection system. However, this award is not a sign of the end of the struggle.

The central government establishes the category of KLA starting from Pratama, Madya, Nindya, to the main.

To be able to level up, the region must prove the success of reducing the number of child violence, improving the quality of services, and strengthening community participation. (EF Linangkung)