Panca Nugraha, Mataram – Poverty and low education levels are believed to be among the factors contributing to increased cases of violence against children in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) over the past three years, an activist says.

"Violence against children in NTB is on the rise. Based on our analysis, factors fueling the violence include poverty and low education levels," NTB Child Protection Agency (LPA) head Badaruddin Nur told The Jakarta Post in Mataram recently.

Based on data at the NTB LPA, added Badaruddin, 43 cases of child abuse were recorded in 2012, followed by 58 cases in 2013. As of early March this year, the NTB LPA handled 16 child abuse cases. The number is estimated to further increase by the end of this year.

Of the cases handled by NTB LPA, they were dominated by sexual abuse committed against children, followed by physical abuse and neglect.

"The recorded cases are those that have been reported to us and in which we have provided advocacy. We believe there are still many cases not reported because the families regard them as a disgrace. It's like the tip of the iceberg," Badaruddin said.

NTB LPA legal division member Masnawati said the number of sexual abuse cases in the form of molestation and rape was 30 in 2012 and 35 in 2013. Most sexual abuse cases were committed by family members.

"In 2013, some of the sexual abuse cases were also committed by children," Masnawati said. "In addition to poverty and low education levels, technology can also be a trigger since many of the cases occurred after perpetrators watched pornographic materials on their cell phones."

She added that the cases handled by the NTB LPA occurred in almost all regencies and mayoralties across the province. Besides sexual and physical abuse, cases of child neglect in NTB were also a concern, according to Masnawati.

Generally, she went on, children could be abandoned by the father who becomes a migrant worker abroad, while the mother remarries, or it could be the other way round.

Both parents of some children even become migrant workers and leave their children in the care of their relatives. "NTB is a center for both migrant workers and for cases of child neglect due to parents working overseas," said Masnawati.

However, she ensured that the NTB LPA would continue to provide psychological care to victims. "In handling neglected children, we also work together with the Child Protection Foundation [YPA] to accommodate and fulfill the needs of the children," she added.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/04/01/poverty-fuels-child-abuse-west-nusa-tenggara.html