Legal Literacy - The child abuse case of Aghnia Punjabi by her nanny has captured public attention. This article discusses the rights of children to be protected, the definition of violence against children, and the penalties for perpetrators.

The Right of Children to be Protected

A child is someone who has not reached the age of 18, including a child still in the womb (A child is an individual who is still in the stage of development and growth, both physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually. In the development process of a child, of course, the child must receive special attention, both in terms of providing nutrition, introducing them to the world, including providing education both academically and non-academically.

The Right of Children to be ProtectedA child is someone who has not reached the age of 18, including a child still in the womb (A child is an individual who is still in the stage of development and growth, both physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually. In the development process of a child, of course, the child must receive special attention, both in terms of providing nutrition, introducing them to the world, including providing education both academically and non-academically.

To ensure that a child is able to bear the responsibility as an adult and hold the status of a citizen, they need to be given the widest possible opportunity to grow and develop optimally. This includes physical, mental, social, and moral aspects. Based on the law through Law Number 23 of 2002 concerning Child Protection (Child Protection Law), a child has the right to be protected, by providing guarantees for the fulfillment of their rights and treatment without discrimination.

A child has the right to receive physical and mental protection. A child is very vulnerable to indecent treatment. One of these treatments is violence against children. Violence against children is a reprehensible thing, and through the Child Protection Law, it is legally prohibited and has legal consequences for those who violate it.

In Indonesia, as of November 2023, there were 15,120 cases of violence against children.[1] This represents the large number of cases of violence against children in Indonesia, and the lack of public awareness that a child has the right to be protected and supported in their growth. One case of violence against children that has recently been widely discussed is the case of violence against the child of one selebgram[2] named Aghnia Punjabi.