JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS — Amnesty International Indonesia has strongly criticized the recent policy issued by West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi, which enforces a night curfew for school-aged children.

The organization called for the immediate withdrawal of the policy, describing it as discriminatory, unconstitutional, and a violation of children’s human rights.

In an official statement, Usman Hamid, Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, said that the policy clearly contradicts the Constitution, which guarantees children the right to be free from all forms of discrimination and human rights violations.

“The curfew not only restricts children’s mobility but also limits their right to personal freedom and public space participation.” he said

The policy, implemented through a circular dated May 23, restricts student activity outside the home from 9:00 PM to 4:00 AM. Exceptions are made for school or religious activities, emergencies, or if accompanied by parents.

However, the enforcement involves military and police patrols, with non-compliant students reportedly facing penalties, including military-style disciplinary actions.

Hamid noted that the curfew breaches both national and international legal obligations, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), ratified by Indonesia in 2005, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by Presidential Decree No. 36 of 1990.

“Imposing a curfew solely on students constitutes discrimination against children. Such disciplinary efforts cannot justify the denial of basic freedoms,” Hamid emphasized.

“Rather than offering protection, the policy subjects children to repressive surveillance and reinforces negative stigmas for being outside at night.”

He also warned that sending students who violate the curfew to military barracks for “reeducation” could inflict serious psychological trauma.