Legal Protection of Street Children

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 107 views

Introduction

Street children are increasingly complex social phenomena, especially in the midst of a prolonged economic crisis. In the city of Medan, this situation is often used as a solution by families who have difficulty, so children are forced to support themselves by working on the streets. According to UNICEF, street children are defined as children who have left their homes, schools, and communities before they are sixteen years old, and live a nomadic life on the streets. The protection of street children is a shared responsibility, especially the government, family, environment, and community.

Background of the Problem

Street children are often the result of economic crises, where families are unable to meet their daily needs, forcing children to make their own living, often in dangerous and unfit ways. In Medan, this phenomenon is not only limited to one community group, but involves various social layers. The economic crisis is a major factor in the emergence of street children, and it is essential to address this issue to prevent the exploitation of children.

Legal Protection of Street Children

Legal protection of street children is very important to ensure they are not exploited and get their rights in accordance with Law Number 23 of 2002 and the principles of Islamic law. This study aims to understand how the implementation of legal protection against street children and various obstacles faced in its application. The government has a crucial role in providing legal protection to street children, but the implementation is still very minimal.

Implementation of Law Number 23 of 2002

The implementation of Law Number 23 of 2002, which regulates child protection, is not yet fully effective. This is caused by several factors, such as lack of socialization about children's rights, the lack of budget support for the child protection program, as well as negative stigma to street children that still exist in the community. Coordination between various government agencies also still needs to be improved to ensure that every child gets proper protection.

Islamic Law and Child Protection

Islamic law also underlines the importance of child protection. In Islamic principles, every child has the right to a good life and is protected from all forms of exploitation. The community is expected to play an active role in protecting children, not only as a legal obligation but also as a moral responsibility. The community has a crucial role in protecting children, and it is essential to increase awareness of children's rights and implement more effective policies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, legal protection of street children in Medan requires a comprehensive and collaborative approach between the government, the community, and family. By increasing awareness of children's rights and implementing more effective policies, it is hoped that the future of street children can be better and they can get the same opportunity in living life. The protection of street children is a shared responsibility, and it is essential to work together to ensure that every child gets proper protection.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

The government should increase awareness of children's rights and implement more effective policies to protect street children.
The community should play an active role in protecting children, not only as a legal obligation but also as a moral responsibility.
Coordination between various government agencies should be improved to ensure that every child gets proper protection.
The family should also play a crucial role in protecting children, and it is essential to increase awareness of children's rights.

Future Research Directions

This study highlights the importance of legal protection of street children in Medan. Future research directions should focus on:

Conducting a comprehensive study on the implementation of Law Number 23 of 2002 and its effectiveness in protecting street children.
Investigating the role of the community in protecting children and the factors that influence their involvement.
Examining the impact of economic crises on the emergence of street children and the effectiveness of policies in addressing this issue.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations, including:

The study only focuses on Medan city and may not be generalizable to other cities or regions.
The study relies on secondary data and may not capture the complexities of the issue.
The study does not examine the impact of other factors, such as poverty and lack of access to education and healthcare, on the emergence of street children.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of legal protection of street children in Medan. The government, community, and family have a crucial role in protecting children, and it is essential to increase awareness of children's rights and implement more effective policies. Future research directions should focus on conducting a comprehensive study on the implementation of Law Number 23 of 2002 and its effectiveness in protecting street children.

Q1: What is the definition of street children?

A1: According to UNICEF, street children are defined as children who have left their homes, schools, and communities before they are sixteen years old, and live a nomadic life on the streets.

Q2: What is the main cause of street children in Medan City?

A2: The main cause of street children in Medan City is the economic crisis, where families are unable to meet their daily needs, forcing children to make their own living, often in dangerous and unfit ways.

Q3: What is the role of the government in protecting street children?

A3: The government has a crucial role in providing legal protection to street children, but the implementation is still very minimal. The government should increase awareness of children's rights and implement more effective policies to protect street children.

Q4: What is the role of the community in protecting street children?

A4: The community has a crucial role in protecting children, not only as a legal obligation but also as a moral responsibility. The community should play an active role in protecting children and increase awareness of children's rights.

Q5: What are the obstacles faced in implementing legal protection for street children?

A5: The obstacles faced in implementing legal protection for street children include lack of socialization about children's rights, the lack of budget support for the child protection program, as well as negative stigma to street children that still exist in the community.

Q6: What is the importance of Islamic law in protecting street children?

A6: Islamic law underlines the importance of child protection. In Islamic principles, every child has the right to a good life and is protected from all forms of exploitation. The community is expected to play an active role in protecting children, not only as a legal obligation but also as a moral responsibility.

Q7: What are the recommendations for protecting street children in Medan City?

A7: The recommendations for protecting street children in Medan City include:

The government should increase awareness of children's rights and implement more effective policies to protect street children.
The community should play an active role in protecting children, not only as a legal obligation but also as a moral responsibility.
Coordination between various government agencies should be improved to ensure that every child gets proper protection.
The family should also play a crucial role in protecting children, and it is essential to increase awareness of children's rights.

Q8: What are the future research directions for protecting street children in Medan City?

A8: The future research directions for protecting street children in Medan City should focus on:

Conducting a comprehensive study on the implementation of Law Number 23 of 2002 and its effectiveness in protecting street children.
Investigating the role of the community in protecting children and the factors that influence their involvement.
Examining the impact of economic crises on the emergence of street children and the effectiveness of policies in addressing this issue.

Q9: What are the limitations of the study on legal protection of street children in Medan City?

A9: The study has several limitations, including:

The study only focuses on Medan city and may not be generalizable to other cities or regions.
The study relies on secondary data and may not capture the complexities of the issue.
The study does not examine the impact of other factors, such as poverty and lack of access to education and healthcare, on the emergence of street children.

Q10: What is the conclusion of the study on legal protection of street children in Medan City?

A10: In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of legal protection of street children in Medan City. The government, community, and family have a crucial role in protecting children, and it is essential to increase awareness of children's rights and implement more effective policies. Future research directions should focus on conducting a comprehensive study on the implementation of Law Number 23 of 2002 and its effectiveness in protecting street children.