REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PASURUAN -- Women Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Susana Yembise has called on children to utilize their time optimally and wisely. She conveyed the advise at the main event of the 2018 National Children's Day Commemoration here on Monday.
"In addition to having a special time for play and recreation, use the best of your time to study," the minister remarked in her speech at the peak event to celebrate National Children's Day at Purwodadi Botanical Garden, Pasuruan, East Java, on Monday.
Yembise expressed hope that children would spend their childhood by learning, playing, and participating in recreational activities and not rush to get married.
"Parents should prevent early marriage of their children. The duty of children is to learn, as they are the future of this nation," she remarked.
According to the minister of women empowerment and child protection, learning, playing, and participating in recreational activities are part of the rights of children that should be fulfilled, for the State guarantees their rights through Law No. 23 of 2002 on Child Protection that has been amended twice through Law No. 35 of 2012 and Law No. 17 of 2016.
The 2018 National Children's Day is themed "Children of Indonesia, GENIUS Children."
GENIUS stands for Gesit or agile, Empathy, Berani or brave, Unnggul or superior, and Sehat or healthy traits that the children must have to be able to tackle the problems faced by the Indonesian nation in future.