Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) said that government budget cuts have affected the existence of child-friendly facilities in public space during the Eid homecoming season.
"Budget cuts have affected the human resources and child-friendly corners that have not yet facilitated in bus terminals, train stations, and homecoming posts,' said the KPAI in a statement on Thursday, March 27, 2025.
KPAI monitored several departure and arrival points for Eid homecoming, including the Gambir and Senen Railway Stations, Kampung Rambutan Terminal, Jati Jajar Terminal in Depok City, Tugu Railway Station in Yogyakarta, and Giwangan Terminal in Yogyakarta.
The commission also inspected the free homecoming program at Kramat Raya 163, Gelora Bung Karno, the Palimanan Toll rest area, the Jembatan Timbang Yogyakarta – Solo Eid Homecoming Post, as well as the children and disability-friendly free homecoming post at Menteng 62 Jakarta.
KPAI found that several stations are lacking lactation rooms, health facilities, and child-friendly corners to facilitate parents and children. Additionally, the child protection agency also recorded the lack of notice boards with child-friendly homecoming information in many stations, terminals, or homecoming posts.
KPAI also observed that many bus terminals are not yet cigarette-free.
In Yogyakarta, KPAI commissioner Dyah Puspitarini discovered a number of shortcomings in child-friendly corners at the Giwangan Terminal and the Jembatan Timbang rest area between Yogyakarta and Solo. She also conducted monitoring at Tugu Railway Station in Yogyakarta.
At Tugu Station, Dyah underscored the distance between the lactation room and the waiting area. She also noted the absence of child-friendly corners at Tugu Station, as well as at Giwangan Terminal. There were also no notice boards about child-friendly homecoming found in both the stations and terminals.
'We noted the lack of human resources and child-friendly facilities compared to last year," Dyah said in a press conference on Thursday.
Meanwhile, in Jakarta, KPAI Chairperson Ai Maryati Solihah said the impact of budget cuts was not noticeable, as the child-friendly facilities at Gambir and Senen stations were effective.
Nevertheless, Ai regretted the lack of a specific complaint post for violence at the stations, as it is conflated with the complaint posts for separated children or lost items.