23 government bodies, child agencies sign agreement to improve integrated service centre for survivors of violenceBANDA ACEH, 31 March, 2010. A new partnership between the Governor’s Office, 16 governmental ministries and departments, seven non-governmental agencies and UNICEF was signed today in Indonesia’s Aceh province to boost the provision of integrated services to children and women exposed to violence. The centre, established in 2006, has seen a sharp increase in the use of its services: from managing 20 cases in the first year to 151 in 2009. The rise reflects growing levels of awareness about services available to them and a willingness to report cases, especially to protect children. Survivors are able to receive assistance from physicians, psychologists and law enforcement officers under one roof. The Vice Governor of Aceh Province, Muhammad Nazar, was present at the signing. The agreement is an important step towards implementing the 2008 Aceh bylaw (Qanun) on Child Protection, the provincial child protection strategy and the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child. It will also address coordination issues between ministries and departments to improve service delivery as well as clarify the roles of different bodies involved. The Aceh bylaw states that services provided should be: timely, responsive, accessible, confidential and free of charge, and, that the centre should prioritize the protection and safety of survivors and key informants by ensuring confidentiality. For more information, please contact Zubedy Koteng, CP Specialist, 081360523474, or Melna Saraswati, Communication Officer, 08126990506.
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