VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

There was something interesting from the activity of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) yesterday. Usually, while attending the event, President Joko Widodo is surrounded by men of the presidential security guard - Paspampres. But when attending the inaugural ceremony event of the export of Mitsubishi Xpander in Tanjung Priok Port, North Jakarta, President Joko Widodo was seen surrounded by female members of the Paspampres. The women troops were alert to escort President Joko Widodo throughout the activity. Previously, at the Kartini Day event held at Monas in Central Jakarta, the female bodyguards were very alert and smart to protect President Joko Widodo.

Of course, there is a special reason why this time, women are assigned to safeguard President Joko Widodo. Deputy for Protocol, Press, and Media Secretariat of the President, Bey Machmudin said that the condition is indeed designed to commemorate ‘Kartini Day’, a day that symbolizes the struggle of equality of women's rights in Indonesia.

The opportunity for Indonesian women to enter in every profession is open enough. The proportion is getting increased. Looking at the Working Cabinet of President Joko Widodo, there are eight women who play a major role in his Cabinet Ministry. Now, Indonesian women have wide opportunities to uphold the sovereignty of the state, to maintain the territory of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia based on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution, and to protect the nation and the country from the threat and disturbance towards the unity of the nation and the country. The number and proportion of women members of the corps of the National Army and the Indonesian National Police are also increasing.

The presence of women security guards and law enforcement authorities is appreciated by President Joko Widodo. When chairing the joint marching of 10.000 women from Armed Forces -TNI, National Police –Polri and all woman components in commemorating ‘Kartini Day’, President Joko Widodo expressed his gratitude for their contribution in maintaining the defense and security of the country which continues to increase from time to time. He also affirmed that they have played a major and strategic role. Because, the people, the government, and the state need the women’s key role. In addition, Indonesian women play a unique role in providing a sense of security and excellent service to the community.

Actually, the presence of female presidential guards is not something new. They are always present in every state event, especially if First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo always attends an event. They are members of Paspampres Group A who have the duty of carrying out immediate physical security at close range at all times against the President and his family.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members` senior officials discussed the vision for strategic partnership between China and ASEAN towards 2030 during the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM), Singapore, Thursday, before the 32nd ASEAN Summit. Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the ASEAN Ade Padmo Sarwono remarked that the discussion still covered the general scope, as a preparation among the 10 ASEAN member countries to be proposed to the ASEAN Summit and ASEAN-related Summit in Singapore in November 2018.

"This ASEAN-China strategic vision discussion is part of the preparations ahead of the event in November. During the discussion, the ASEAN covered the outcome and the ways to negotiate with China to be proposed in the upcoming event," he noted.

The outcome of the negotiations between both sides is expected to be presented by the leaders of ASEAN and China at the 21st ASEAN-China Summit in Singapore in November 2018 as well as to mark the 15th anniversary of the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership.

"Currently, our partnership level with China is strategic. The 2030 vision will serve as a beacon to further enhance ASEAN-China relations in various fields," he stated.

The 2030 vision, in principle, will cover the three pillars of ASEAN: politics, law, security; economy; and sociocultural. For the political pillar, he explained that one of the main agendas was to accelerate the completion of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea as well as to improve countermeasures against terrorism and transnational crime. For the economic pillar, the ASEAN is keen to increase investment and trade with China as an economic community. In the sociocultural field, the ASEAN is looking to enhance people-to-people contacts, especially among academic.

"The discussion is not yet complete, but the three pillars of ASEAN must be included in the negotiation process," he emphasized.

Discussion of the vision of the 2030 ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership at the ASEAN SOM level is a follow-up of the agreement between the countries` leaders at the ASEAN-China Summit in Manila, the Philippines, in November 2017. During the meeting, ASEAN and China have agreed to improve cooperation that has been going well. Currently, China is ASEAN`s biggest trading partner, while the bloc is the former`s third-largest partner. The two sides have also agreed to work together to achieve the trade target of US$1 trillion and investment of $500 billion by 2020.

The SOM of ASEAN is to be held in Singapore, the chair of the 2018 ASEAN. SOM is the initial meeting before the Ministerial Meeting and the 32nd ASEAN Summit to be also attended by Indonesian President Joko Widodo. ( antara )

Although often criticized for his leadership style, Donald Trump is still a leader of the superpower, the United States. Even Trump makes at least 2 surprises in 2018. First is his planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sometime to come. The second surprise was, ordering his troops and supported by US, British and French allies carrying out attacks in Syria for some time.
For East Asian affairs, particularly the issue of the Korean Peninsula, Trump was approached by its ally, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Both discuss this issue as one of their meeting agendas. Nevertheless, the two do not agree on trade matters.
A week after that, the Trump discussion shifted to the West Asian region. This time the allies of the United States in the attack in Syria, French President Emmanuele Macron menyambanginya Tuesday (April 24, 2018). The two discussed issues in Syria and JCPOA, the Comprehensive Comprehensive Action Plan signed by Irang with six countries, the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany in Lausanne, Switzerland, 2 April 3 years ago and will expire May 12, 2018. Trump does not seem to be pleased to continue the JCPOA because it considers it the "worst in history".
Whether realized or not, Trump plays an important role both in East Asia and West Asia. If Trump and allies maintain a commitment to peace in West Asia, Trump should still try to make it happen whether it is through a peaceful process in Syria, in Palestine and not necessarily rejecting JCPOA with Iran.
On the contrary in East Asia, it seems a more positive aura for the United States to resolve the nuclear issue with North Korea. The meeting of the two Koreas closer to the realization of the golden bridge of peace on the Peninsula. Donald Trump's meeting - Kim Jong Un guarantees eternal peace on the Korean Peninsula.
We hope the United States is truly committed to peace. Because only with world peace can share prosperity for all.

Cases of sexual violence against kids still occur and attract the public's attention. According to Global Report 2017 ‘Ending Violence in Childhood reported by Know Violence in Childhood, an organization under UNICEF, the number of sexual violence against girls worldwide with the ages 15-19 reaches 18 million. This figure excludes the number of violence against boys. Many people wonder why child abuse cases continue to happen (?) Then, how does the Indonesian government overcome the case?

The commitment of the Indonesian government expressed by President Joko Widodo and  Minister of Women's Empowerment of Child Protection, Yohanna Yambise encourages the perpetrators of sexual crimes against kids to be strictly punished. This is aimed at reducing the cases of sexual violence against children. However, the effort will not be fruitful without cooperation with all related stakeholders.

Based on the existing laws, the punishment for child sex offenders is relatively severe. But most importantly, it is not the treatment after the tragedy. But it’s how to keep and protect the children to avoid the deviant behavior of people who are not responsible. The responsibility and protection of the children still depend on their respective parents. Therefore, parents must understand the behavior of the children and the environment around them. They should also provide early understanding to their children about sex, the threat of sexual harassment and sexual violence. In addition, the children are educated how to recognize the people around them who have deviant behavior and may harm the children. Based on experience, most perpetrators of sexual crimes against children are those who are already close to the children.

The children are the next generation that will determine the fate of the Indonesian nation in the future. Therefore, there is no reason not to protect them now and in the future. Both the government and related stakeholders, including the general public have common duty and responsibility to eliminate sexual crimes against children across Indonesia.