MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – Nasyiatul Aisyiyah has committed to protecting children’s rights and promoting environmental sustainability. President of Nasyiatul Aisyiyah Ariati Dina Puspitasari mentioned children are not only precious gifts from God but also the inheritors of our aspirations and the future of humanity.
In Islam, three deeds continue to benefit a Muslim even after their death, one of which is having children who constantly pray for their parents. Recognizing the profound significance of children, Ariati emphasizes their fundamental right to holistic development, encompassing physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Ariati highlighted the 10 fundamental rights enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, including the right to play, education, protection, recreation, adequate nutrition, healthcare, identity, nationality, participation in development, and equality.
Mentioned in Surah At-Tahrim verse 6, “O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones…”
“The UN Convention and the verse indicate the significance to maintain, educate, and comply with rights of the smallest element in society, namely a family,” said Ariati on Tuesday (July 23).
Ariati further explained that Nasyiatul Aisyiyah is dedicated to becoming a child-friendly organization, embodying the principles of reflectiveness, activism, mass mobilization, advocacy, and humanism.
The organization’s tagline, “Keluarga Muda Tangguh” (Resilient Young Families), emphasizes the family as the foundation of a strong and thriving society. Families play a pivotal role in upholding religious values, fostering education, promoting economic well-being, and ensuring social and health equity.
Resilient Young Families encompass 10 pillars: unwavering faith and noble character; literacy proficiency; physical, mental, and spiritual well-being; justice guided by the spirit of Al-Ma’un; mutual respect and equal access; self-reliance; peacebuilding; anti-violence; environmental stewardship; and disaster preparedness.
Ariati acknowledged the ongoing challenges in fulfilling children’s rights, particularly in addressing the issue of stunting. According to UNICEF, in 2018, 29.9% of children under the age of 24 months suffered from stunting.
Since 2017, Nasyiatul Aisyiyah has been actively involved in stunting prevention and management initiatives, advocating for and implementing programs in Putusibau-Kapuas Hulu, Rawa Belut-Cianjur, Pasir Nangka-Tangerang, and Tieng-Wonosobo. These efforts have even been recognized as a national program.
Nasyiatul Aisyiyah recognizes the family as the primary learning environment for accelerating stunting prevention and management. In collaboration with religious and community leaders, the organization has made families the focal point of these efforts.
The Ministry of Health reported a decline in stunting prevalence from 24.4% in 2021 to 21.6% in 2022, a testament to the collective efforts of organizations like Nasyiatul Aisyiyah.
Nasyiatul Aisyiyah further emphasizes the family’s crucial role in safeguarding children’s rights across all spheres. Families provide the initial ecosystem for children’s adaptation and development.
“In 2024, Nasyiatul Aisyiyah is partnering with the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (KPPPA) to develop a parenting school module based on Family Learning Centers. This initiative is driven by KPPPA data indicating an annual increase in child violence,” said Ariati
By fostering positive parenting practices rooted in children’s rights and establishing families as learning hubs, Nasyiatul Aisyiyah aims to reduce child abuse and violence.
Environmental issues leading to climate crises have also captured Nasyiatul Aisyiyah’s attention. Since 2021, the organization has been actively advocating for environmental protection through the Eco Bhineka program, involving participants from diverse faiths.
Drawing upon Muhammadiyah’s environmental theology and ecofeminist principles, Nasyiatul Aisyiyah has developed the Green Nasyiah concept as an analytical tool and guiding framework for addressing environmental challenges.
According to a 2023 year-end report by Save the Children and the Indonesian Child Protection Commission, the fulfillment of children’s rights is further threatened by the looming climate crisis.
“Nasyiatul Aisyiyah believes that the Eco Bhineka program and the Green Nasyiah concept empower individuals within families, particularly women as agents of resilient young families, to prevent climate crises and safeguard children’s rights,” said Ariati.
Nasyiatul Aisyiyah’s programs aim to support the fulfillment of children’s rights through a women’s movement grounded in theological principles. The “Resilient Young Families” approach also significantly influences program design.
Finally, Ariati emphasized the family’s essential role in meeting children’s rights. Addressing these issues requires precise solutions and cooperation from various parties.
“The state supports through child-friendly laws, society must oversee government programs, and families need to accelerate becoming resilient and child-friendly,” said Ariati.
