PRESIDENT : GUIDE CHILDREN TO STAY CLEAR OF CRIME

Jakarta, Dec 22 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on all parents to guide their children well to prevent them from being involved in crime, and from physical and mental harm.

He made the call at the commemoration of the 81st Mothers' Day here on Tuesday in response to cooperation made by the office of the state minister for empowerment of women's role and child protection with a number of law enforcement agencies to protect children involved in crimes.

"Child protection was mentioned just now. I appreciate this. How we can guide our children correctly and educate them to always act with responsibility," the President said.

The head of state said although all are equal before the law other perspectives also need to be taken into account as well.

"It is possible that our children do not understand the law so that they violate it. We cannot let our children have their memory harmed because of an imprisonment. It is also the responsibility of parents to take care of their children," he said.

Earlier, Minister for Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Amelia Sari Gumelar said the government would pay more attention to court verdicts on children and child detention to ensure that they were made based on justice, morality and social norms so that it could be more as a rehabilitation effort.

"A joint decision has been signed for the handling of children before the court by the attorney general office, the supreme court, the police, the ministry of justice and human rights and the state minister for women's role and child protection as part of their commitment to protect children," she said.

She said the cooperation was significant because there were now 5,760 children under detainee and prisoner status requiring special treatment because of their young age.