Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has slammed the government for its failure to protect children's rights, leading to highest infant mortality rate in Southeast Asia, and endless child trafficking and prostitution.

KPAI chairman Hadi Supeno told reporters here Friday that although most Indonesian children had secured their right to education, the same thing did not apply to their right to access to health care.

He said infant mortality rate currently stood at 34 infants per 1,000 births, meaning that about 160,000 infants died every year or three babies died every minute. "That is the highest in Southeast Asia," Hadi said.

The government, he went on, has also failed to provide special protection for children, leading to 150,000 children being stranded on the streets, 60,000 becoming prostitutes and 30,000 becoming victims of trafficking.

Children are those under the age of 18, and they amount to 80 million in Indonesia.

The KPAI will hold a massive campaign on children's rights across a number of regions in collaboration with regional administrations.