National meeting agrees five points on sexual violence in pesantren

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The meeting between the pondok pesantren and the government, known as the National Meeting of Pondok Pesantren, agreed on five points related to sexual violence occurring within pesantren communities.

“First, there must be a shared and collective awareness among pesantren caretakers that cases of sexual crime or sexual violence are internal social realities that have indeed occurred in some pesantren from long ago until now,” said Saifullah Maksum, chair of the Steering Committee (or Organising Committee) of the Temu Nasional Pondok Pesantren, in Kemayoran, Jakarta, on Tuesday.

He explained that this collective awareness to acknowledge the existence of sexual violence in pesantren is necessary because such matters cannot be treated as trivial or ordinary.

“Second, both the government and pesantren must recognise that there are parties who exploit sexual violence cases in pesantren to undermine public trust in pesantren.”

“Third, there must be a shared awareness from all parties to tackle the root causes and the factors that could previously generate more sexual violence in pesantren in the future.”

“Fourth, both the government and pesantren regard the primary responsibility for resolving the issue of sexual violence in pesantren as lying with the pesantren caretakers. Therefore, the forum believes caretakers or all authorities in pesantren must be exemplars for residents.”

“Caretakers should avoid direct physical interaction with santri of the opposite sex for any reason or none, except for reasons justified by syariah (Islamic law),” he said.

“Additionally, there is a need to improve the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for establishing pesantren, including adjusting or improving the form and layout of pesantren buildings, and the installation of CCTV to support a safe and comfortable environment.”

“Furthermore, an internal pesantren oversight team should be formed, and a monitoring system developed that can detect sexual violence cases at an early stage,” he added.

“As for the fifth and final point, the pesantren and the government consider a national anti-sexual violence movement in pesantren to be necessary.”

The National Meeting of Pondok Pesantren was held on 18–19 May 2026. The five agreed points drew on input from Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar, Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar, Minister for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Arifatul Choiri Fauzi, Chairman of DPR RI Commission VIII Marwan Dasopang, and the Director of Crimes Against Women and Children and the Eradication of Human Trafficking (Dirtipid PPA-PPO) of the Police Brigadier General Nurul Azizah, among others.