VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Bangka Belitung Governor Erzaldi Rosman Djohan on a jet ski in Belitung waters. (Aprionis)

Governor of Bangka Belitung Islands, Erzaldi Rosman Djohan, announced that Belitung Island is ready to accept tourists by applying strict health protocols to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

"In this new normal era, I also ensure that the implementation of COVID-19 health protocols at tourist attractions on Belitung Island runs smoothly," Djohan stated in Belitung, bangka Belitung, on Wednesday.

The readiness of Belitung Island to be visited is apparent from the stringent application of the health protocols, from the airport to hotels and also at tourist attractions.

The government has also categorized Bangka Belitung, especially Belitung Island, comprising two districts of Belitung and East Belitung as a green zone.

"Visiting tourists does not need to worry because Bangka Belitung tourist spots are enforcing health protocols," he stated.

Bangka Belitung Islands is one of the provinces categorized as green zones and had obtained the central government’s recommendation to become one of the areas that could be frequented for tourism purposes in the new normal era.

Djohan lauded the good news for Bangka Belitung since the tourism industry is crucial for the province's economy, and that the people have been homebound for months.

Bangka Belitung has an abundance of natural beauty in the form of scenic beaches, calm seas, clear sea waters, and small green islands.

Bangka Belitung is ready to welcome tourists. Hotels and restaurants have begun operating again, and tourist attractions have reopened, Djohan noted. (Antaranews)

Indonesia's government has made numerous efforts and applied programs to prevent child marriages, Subandi Sardjoko, Deputy for Human, Community and Cultural Development of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) said on Wednesday.

"In February 2020, the National Strategy for Prevention of Child Marriage was launched as a reference for all stakeholders, both at the central and rural region levels, to reduce the number of child marriages," Sardjoko remarked while speaking at an online seminar on Wednesday.

Sardjoko noted that the National Strategy to Prevent Child Marriage is a joint product of the Ministry of National Development Planning / Bappenas, Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Indonesian-Australian Government Work Program through the MAMPU Program, and Australia Indonesia Partnership for Justice (AIPJ2) by involving various stakeholders, including experts, academics, and children's groups.

Another step taken to prevent child marriages is an amendment of Law Number 1 of 1974 on Marriage through Law Number 16 of 2019 that increases the minimum age of marriage to 19 years for both genders.

Sardjoko explained that amendment to the Marriage Law was supported by the Supreme Court through Supreme Court Regulation Number 5 of 2019 on Guidelines for Adjudicating Applications for Marriage Dispensation.

"Another program is a Joint Movement (GeBer) for the Prevention of Child Marriage from the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection to build awareness and joint commitment to reducing child marriage cases," he stated.

Efforts to prevent child marriages are also being undertaken through the Family Planning Generation Program (GenRe) from the Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) and the function of the Child Forum Pioneer and Reporting Party as a forum for children's participation.(Antaranews)

The Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) plans to analyze the transmission patterns of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in medical workers as a higher number of doctors have died of the virus.

"It is important for us to take a step to protect and rescue medical workers," vice-chairman of the IDI executive board, Adib Khumaidi said on Wednesday.

IDI central executive board will soon look into the causes of 100 deaths of national doctors, he said.

"This may refer to the potential risk of exposure to COVID-19 while serving patients or socializing in the community, including the possibility of them having comorbidities," Adib said.

However, some of the medical workers who have died did not directly handle COVID-19 patients, he pointed out.

"Therefore, we will analyze the transmission pattern," he added.

As per a preliminary analysis, in general, Adib said that medical workers died of COVID-19 not merely because of poor personal protective equipment. The problem was also connected to the standardization of the service system and regulations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Another factor was the workload of doctors or medical workers serving COVID-19 patients.

"This is also related to working hours and rest. On our part, we must make a good regulation to control their working hours," he remarked.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals should not add to the workload of medical workers, but rather control the workload, he said. Looking ahead, the IDI will calculate the capability of human resources to find the best solution, he added. (Antaranews)

Indonesia has carried out its duties as the Presidency of the UN Security Council (DK) in August 2020. Under the Indonesian Presidency, the UN Security Council has successfully carried out a total of 50 activities, both virtual and in-person meetings.

Until the last day of the Presidency on August 31, 2020, Indonesia has chaired 12 open meetings, 12 closed meetings, 5 additional agendas, and 12 UNSC Subsidiary Body meetings. In addition, the UN Security Council also produced 4 resolutions, 3 Press Statements.

The Indonesian Presidency has held three signature events, in which the Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi chaired two High-Level Open Debate meetings on Indonesian initiatives regarding peacebuilding during a pandemic and the link between terrorism and organized crime.

Apart from that, Indonesia has also held an Aria Formula meeting regarding cyber-attacks on vital infrastructure.

Under the Indonesian Presidency, the UN Security Council has adopted 4 resolutions, they were: resolution on extending the mandate of the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL), resolution on extending the mandate of the peacekeeping mission in Somalia (UNSOM), resolution on extending the sanctions regime in Mali and a resolution on female peacekeeping personnel initiated by Indonesia.

The UNSC resolution on women peacekeepers is the first resolution in the history of Indonesian diplomacy in the UN Security Council. It was sponsored by 97 UN member countries, including all UNSC member countries.

Another resolution proposed by Indonesia on counterterrorism also received the support of 14 UN Security Council member states, but it cannot be ratified due to a veto by one country. All UN Security Council member countries regret the use of veto against the resolution.

Not only a formal meeting of the UN Security Council, but Indonesia has also initiated and chaired various casual meetings.

Indonesia led breakfast meetings and Sofa Talks with the UN Security Council Ambassadors at the Office of the Indonesian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, meetings with the UN Secretary-General, briefings to UN members at the beginning and end of the Presidency, as well as briefings to NGOs and media that specifically cover the UN.

While holding the presidency, Indonesia continues to strive to play a role as a bridge-builder, contribute to world peace amid the COVID-19 pandemic and safeguard the principles of international law.

(RRI/Retno Mandasari)