Psychologists say society should take a tougher stand on child abuse, which is increasing in Indonesia.

Three ways to fight this trend are to hold awareness programs on children’s rights, give guidance to high-risk children and create online services to record child abuse cases, said Endang Widyorini from the Semarang-based University of Soegijapranata.

The psychologist was speaking during the June 24-25 International Conference on Early Childhood and Youth Development held in the University of Widya Mandala in Surabaya, East Java.

Of the 786 victims of abuse reported in East Java in 2009, 64 were children under 18 and the rest were women, according to local media reports.

Difficult economic circumstances could also spark tensions within a family with the children most at risk of violence from adults, said Agnes Maria Sumargi, a psychology lecturer.

Adults may take out their frustrations on their children, said Sumargi, adding that verbal threats constitute “psychological violence.”

“Many parents do not realize it,” she said.

The pressures that families face in modern society are a contributing factor to child abuse, said Maria Laksmi Anantasari from the Yogyakarta-based University of Sanata Dharma.

A lack of law enforcement and a loosening of social norms are additional factors, she said.

About 100 people attended the conference, organized to mark Widya Mandala university’s 50th anniversary which will be celebrated in September.

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