11.5 Million Indonesian Children Have Experienced Violence, NGO Says

Digital Threats and Social Challenges Threaten Indonesian Youth

Tempatdonasi.com – The digital landscape in Indonesia has evolved rapidly, bringing with it new vulnerabilities for the nation’s youngest citizens. According to Save the Children Indonesia, more than three-quarters of children between the ages of five and seventeen now own mobile phones. Nearly seventy-four percent of this demographic also maintains regular internet connectivity. This widespread digital penetration, while offering opportunities, simultaneously exposes young people to heightened dangers including cyberbullying, online exploitation, and various forms of digital abuse.

Tata Sudrajat, who serves as Senior Director for Advocacy, Campaign and Government Relations at the organization, emphasized these concerns during a media discussion held in Jakarta on July 14. He noted that the expanding digital footprint creates additional layers of risk that families and communities must address proactively.

Violence Statistics Reveal Widespread Impact

A comprehensive assessment conducted by the NGO reveals that over half of Indonesian adolescents aged thirteen to seventeen have encountered at least one type of violence during their lifetime. Specifically, fifty point seven eight percent of children within this age bracket—representing approximately eleven point five million young people—have faced some form of mistreatment or harm.

“This should be a matter of concern and a shared commitment to resolve it,” Tata stated during his presentation.

The organization cautioned that millions of Indonesian children continue to face multiple overlapping threats. These include physical and emotional abuse, economic exploitation, poverty-related hardships, and insufficient access to quality educational opportunities.

Persistent Poverty and Care Deficits

Child poverty remains a stubborn challenge across the archipelago. Drawing from official figures provided by the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Tata reported that eleven point four four percent of Indonesians between zero and seventeen years old live beneath the national poverty threshold.

This economic hardship creates cascading effects on child wellbeing. Children from impoverished households face elevated risks of malnutrition, premature school withdrawal, and exploitation through labor or other means. Additionally, the organization highlighted troubling care statistics: four point five eight percent of toddlers receive insufficient nurturing, while three point zero six percent lack both parents or primary caregivers in their household. Approximately one point three seven percent of children are classified as abandoned.

“These conditions have contributed to Indonesia having a high number of orphanages,” Tata explained.

Child Labor and Educational Disparities

Working children represent another significant demographic concern. Save the Children estimates that roughly one point zero one million Indonesian children engage in formal or informal labor. Furthermore, an additional three point zero five million youngsters participate in economic activities while simultaneously maintaining school enrollment.

“These figures show that many children are still involved in economic activities at an age that should be focused on learning and development,” Tata observed.

While Indonesia has achieved remarkable progress in primary education—with net enrollment reaching ninety-seven point nine four percent—participation drops considerably at advanced levels. Junior secondary schools report eighty-one point seven three percent enrollment, and senior secondary institutions show only sixty-four point three two percent participation.

“Unequal access to education has led to high dropout rates at the lower and upper secondary levels,” Tata noted.

Natural Disasters Compound Vulnerabilities

Environmental challenges further strain Indonesia’s children. The country experienced four thousand seven hundred twenty-seven separate disasters throughout 2025, each disrupting essential services including healthcare delivery and educational continuity.

Major events that affected Sumatra during the latter part of 2025 left many communities struggling. Children across North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and especially Aceh have not yet fully recovered from these impacts.

“When disasters occur, healthcare facilities, schools, and homes are often damaged. As a result, children’s rights to education, health, and basic services cannot be fully met,” he concluded.