Indonesia's future is not determined solely by the policies drafted today, but also by how children grow, are educated, and are protected. When children grow up in an environment that is safe, filled with affection, and supportive of their development, Indonesia is preparing a generation with the quality and character needed to move toward Golden Indonesia 2045.

This was conveyed by the Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection of the Republic of Indonesia, Arifatul Choiri Fauzi, while serving as keynote speaker at the National Seminar and Alumni Gathering themed “Transforming Early Childhood Islamic Education Toward the Golden Generation of 2045: Collaboration Among Academics, Public Policy, and Child Protection.” The event, organized by the Master's Program in Early Childhood Islamic Education (PIAUD), Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training (FITK), UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, was held on Friday (9/25/2026) at the Theatrical Hall, 4th Floor, Faculty of Medicine Building, UIN Sunan Kalijaga.

The seminar was attended by hundreds of students and alumni. Also present were UIN Sunan Kalijaga Rector Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan and the university's vice rectors, FITK Dean Prof. Sigit Purnama and the faculty's vice deans, along with a number of other related parties.

The Minister said that issues of child education and protection cannot be separated from the nation's future. Citing data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), she noted that children aged 0–17 made up approximately 30.1 percent of Indonesia's population in 2025, meaning roughly one in three Indonesians is a child.

“Children hold an important and strategic position for Indonesia's future in 2045. What Indonesia becomes depends on how we educate and raise our children today,” she said.

According to her, children's education needs to take place within an environment that allows them to grow safely and receive love and affection. Conversely, when children grow up in an unsafe environment, the resulting problems become a challenge not only for families, but for Indonesia as a whole, which stands to lose its best future generation.

This issue carries even greater urgency given that violence against children remains a persistent reality. The Minister cited research findings showing that 1 in 2 children, meaning 50 percent, aged 13–17 have experienced violence at some point in their lives. She also touched on children's mental health; an issue she said requires more serious attention.

According to Arifah, sexual violence against children also demands growing attention, as it can occur at a very young age. She shared an account of a four-year-old child who became reluctant to attend Qur'an recitation lessons out of fear. Upon investigation, the child disclosed having experienced sexual abuse from another child two years older.

Further investigation revealed that the child who committed the abuse had also previously been a victim of sexual abuse by yet another child two years older than himself. According to Arifah, this case illustrates the need for comprehensive handling of child victims, so that cycles of abuse do not repeat.

“When a victim is identified, the response must be carried through to completion. A child who has been victimized needs ongoing support so that the impact of the abuse does not continue, and so the chain of violence can be broken,” she said.

Arifah also noted that violence against children takes many forms, physical, emotional, and sexual. Emotional violence, for instance, can appear in everyday communication patterns that adults may consider ordinary, yet which can still carry a real impact on children.

To strengthen child protection, Arifah said, the government has developed the Online Information System for the Protection of Women and Children (Simfoni). Through this system, the government can gain a faster picture of reported cases of violence. However, the Minister cautioned that recorded figures do not yet reflect the full scope of the problem.

“In 2025, around 2,036 cases of violence against women and children were recorded. But that number is still like the tip of an iceberg. Many victims have yet to come forward, due to stigma, threats, or fear of the consequences of reporting,” she said.

For this reason, campaigns encouraging the courage to speak up and report incidents are an essential part of building a strong child protection system. The government, Arifah said, needs to stand alongside communities to ensure that children and families receive help when they experience violence.

On the subject of education, Arifah, herself a UIN Sunan Kalijaga alumna, encouraged the development of child-friendly educational institutions. This concept, she explained, goes beyond providing safe facilities; it also means ensuring children's rights are fulfilled, that special protections are in place, and that accessible complaint mechanisms exist for children facing difficulties.

She explained that building child-friendly educational institutions requires a shift in paradigm. Educators should not be positioned solely as instructors, but also as mentors, friends to children, and part of an environment that provides a sense of safety.

Implementation spans service management, educators and administrative staff, facilities, and protective service mechanisms, all of which require collaboration among various stakeholders.

It is in this context that the Minister sees universities as having a significant role to play. Higher education institutions can help generate knowledge, educational models, and human resources equipped with a more complete understanding of children's needs.

“UIN can do several things: Islamic-based parenting guidance, since many parents struggle with this; research on integrated curricula; training professional educators; and developing holistic Islamic early childhood education models,” she said.

On this occasion, the Minister also emphasized that early childhood education should not be directed solely toward academic achievement. Children need an environment that shapes their social and emotional abilities, character, and the values that will serve as their foundation throughout life.

This challenge grows even more complex amid the advance of digital technology. She shared the results of a survey conducted through a children's forum in Central Java, examining who children turn to when facing problems. The results showed that most children preferred confiding in friends, or even their mobile phones, over their parents.

This finding, she said, should prompt reflection among families. Parenting approaches need to continue adapting to the changing times, without losing the values that form the foundation of children's upbringing.

“Parents may certainly take pride in their children's achievements. But don't forget to build their foundation with religious values, noble character, and good manners. The strongest fortress for a child is not a high fence, but those very values,” she affirmed.

The seminar held by the PIAUD Master's Program, FITK, UIN Sunan Kalijaga, became a meeting point between academic perspectives, public policy, and the challenges of child protection. Amid the persistent challenges of violence, shifting parenting patterns, and the growth of digital technology, early childhood education holds real potential to build a safe environment for children to grow, while instilling religious values, character, and good manners from the very beginning. (humassk)