Families urged to safeguard young people from radicalism

The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection emphasises the importance of strengthening families’ role in instilling tolerance, peace, and child-friendly parenting values to safeguard young people from radical ideologies from an early age. ‘The government is also reinforcing protection for women and children while intensifying coordination across ministries, agencies, local governments, and civil society organisations to make prevention and handling efforts more effective,’ said Titi Eko Rahayu, Deputy for Special Child Protection at the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (KemenPPPA), in Jakarta on Sunday. Titi Eko Rahayu noted that women and children are vulnerable to violent and radical ideologies, particularly through the growing proliferation of information media and digital spaces. She stated that protecting women and children from radicalism and terrorism cannot be done in isolation, requiring strong collaboration between central and local governments, law enforcement, service agencies, schools, families, and communities to strengthen a comprehensive system from prevention to handling, rehabilitation, and social reintegration. The ministry continues to advocate for local governments to expedite the establishment of Regional Implementation Units for Women and Child Protection (UPTD PPA), provision of safe houses, and capacity building of human resources to address challenges in protecting women and children from radicalism and terrorism at the regional level. Additionally, the ministry is drafting technical guidelines for handling children affected by terrorist networks as implementation guidelines at the regional level. ‘The ministry also encourages strengthening policy and funding support, including through coordination with relevant ministries and agencies to optimise women and child protection services at the regional level,’ Titi Eko Rahayu said.