The Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (Kemen PPPA) has reaffirmed the crucial position of children in the national development agenda. Minister of PPPA, Arifah Fauzi, stated that children are not merely objects or beneficiaries, but subjects of development who have an absolute right to be heard and meaningfully involved in every decision-making process.
In a webinar titled "Libur T'lah Tiba", Arifah emphasized that meaningful participation means creating an inclusive, safe, and discrimination-free space for children. This aligns with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which guarantees that every child's voice receives constructive feedback to foster a friendly environment for the nation's next generation.
In addition to participation, mental health is a fundamental pillar highlighted by the government. According to Minister Arifah, good mental health is the foundation for children to manage their emotions and build self-confidence. This responsibility was emphasized as collective, involving the active role of the family as the primary space, schools safe from bullying, and stigma-free community support.
Data from the Ministry of Health shows the urgency of this issue. Based on mental health screenings for children aged 7–17, around 4.8 percent or 363,326 children were indicated to have symptoms of depression. This phenomenon is further exacerbated by challenges in the digital era that demand serious attention from all stakeholders.
Responding to these challenges, the government, through the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas, has optimized the role of the Children's Forum as an official platform to channel aspirations. This step aims to technically integrate children's voices into national development planning documents.
At the end of the session, psychologist Irfan Aulia provided practical education for teenagers on maintaining mental stability amid pressure. Simple emotion management techniques and strengthening a positive mindset are considered essential assets for adolescents to remain resilient in facing difficult situations, as a concrete step toward achieving the vision of Golden Indonesia 2045.
