inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Vice Minister of Human Rights Mugiyanto called the tragedy of the death of a 10-year-old elementary school student in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), YBH, who allegedly took his own life due to family financial problems, a wake-up call for the nation.
Mugiyanto said the incident served as a stark reminder of the importance of government presence at all levels, down to remote villages and within the family.
"This is a reminder for the government and the state to truly be present in people's homes. The state must ensure that the rights to a decent life, education, health, housing, and employment are fulfilled," said Mugiyanto on Friday (2/6/2026).
He described the tragedy as deeply concerning and a source of national concern. He acknowledged his own personal experience with the situation, having experienced similar hardships as a child in the village.
Mugiyanto also highlighted the victim's family's background, which falls into the category of extreme poverty. According to him, this situation underpins the government's implementation of various poverty alleviation programs, such as Free Nutritious Meals (MBG), People’s Schools, free health checkups, village cooperatives, housing provision, and job creation.
He emphasized that the government's efforts are not only aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty, but also at encouraging poor communities to move up a class and become empowered.
"All citizens must be equal and able to enjoy their rights. No one should be left behind," he said.
The government continues to work hard to eradicate poverty so that no more children are trapped in similar situations. He hopes that what happened to YBH will not be a wasted sacrifice.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Human Rights is committed to collaborating with all ministries, institutions, and local governments to ensure the welfare of the community. Regarding this case, the Ministry of Human Rights has assigned the NTT Regional Human Rights Office to go directly to the field to assist the victim's family and coordinate with the local government.
"Through this step, we want to understand the issues faced by the community as a mitigation effort to prevent similar incidents from happening anywhere in Indonesia," he said.
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