Child abuse ups call to turn off TV

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sat, 05/12/2007 7:37 AM  |  Jakarta

Local television programs are responsible for triggering violent behavior in children, a prominent activist said Friday.

National Commission for Child Protection secretary general Arist Merdeka Sirait said programs aired by private television stations, mostly soap operas, or sinetron, were packed with violence.

""Children like to imitate and might apply the same violence they see on screen to their daily lives,"" he said.

Of 35 programs and drama shows aired on television, some 62 percent exhibit violent content.

Last year, private TV station Lativi dropped an American wrestling program in response to strong public demand. The ""smack down"" shows were blamed for a boy's death in November and a series of injuries to children, reportedly inflicted through play that imitated dangerous wrestling moves.

Following these incidents, the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission reported eight private television stations to police for airing programs of a sexual and violent nature.

Arist said there should be a national movement to eliminate violence in society, to prevent children from being continually exposed to violence.

He said parents' and teachers' perceptions needed to be changed, especially in regard to the use of violence as punishment for children.

""Parents and teachers should not punish children with physical contact, such as spanking,"" he said.

""This is an important issue because the number of cases of violence against children increases every year.""

In 2006, the National Commission for Child Protection processed 1,124 cases of violence against children. Psychological violence was the highest at 40.12 percent, with sexual violence accounting for 37 percent and physical violence 21.98 percent.

Of 526 child abusers, 16 percent were neighbors of the children. Fathers accounted for 11.6 percent, while 8.46 percent of abusers were mothers. Some 6.46 percent were teachers, while stepmothers accounted for 1.71 percent. -- JP

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.