SP/Ari Rikin – Instances of reported sexual violence against children are on the rise in Indonesia a report released by the National Commission on Child Protection (KPAI) said on Wednesday.

"At this moment, there's a sexual crime emergency situation," said KPAI Chairman Arist Merdeka Sirait. "This should be a public issue so people can fight together against sexual crimes against children."

Between January and October this year, the commission recorded 2,792 violations, including 1,424 instances of violence, 730 of which were sexual violence. Arist said the numbers had increased by 48 percent from the corresponding period last year.

"Degradation of religious and family norms keeps on happening," he said. "Families which should be the protective shelter for children have often been the main perpetrators of violence against children."

He said the 2002 Child Protection Law had not been fully implemented, leaving the rights of children unprotected.

Samsul Ridwan, secretary general of the commission, said that violence was most common in low-income households. Jakarta, as the nation's most populous city, recorded 666 cases, the most of any city, followed by Depok, Bekasi, Tangerang and Bogor.

It is unknown if increased reporting played any role in the significant increase in reported sex crimes against children.