Youths sought to promote peace

JAKARTA (JP): The Office of the State Minister of Women's Empowerment and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) are working out a program to train youths from conflict-stricken regions to serve as peacemakers on their home soil.

However, state minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa said the program remained in the planning stages, and would not move forward for eight months.

She said the preparation took a long time because of the requirements of UNDP, which has pledged US$50 million in multilateral fund to finance the project.

"Within this period of nine months, we will study and research how to run this program, what kinds of activities are needed," Khofifah said.

A similar program has been undertaken in Sri Lanka, where young refugees are trained in conflict resolution.

"For the conflict in Aceh, we plan to hold the training in Medan, North Sumatra. For Ternate it will be located in Manado, North Sulawesi, and for Maluku maybe on Buton island," Khofifah said.

Young people will be chosen, she said, based on their ability to attend the training and their idealism.

The training sessions will last for about two weeks and will involve between 30 and 40 people.

"Hopefully, they can promote peace and reconcile the warring groups (in their areas)," said Khofifah, who also chairs the National Family Planning Board (BKKBN).

According to Khofifah, her office is determined to help people in conflict zones, because women and children are the most likely to become victims of conflicts. However, she conceded it was an uphill battle.

"There is zero money in the state budget for this," she said, adding that in Aceh vehicles belonging to the BKKBN office had to be given up because of a lack of funds.

She said there already was some training offered to women in conflict zones, aimed at helping them learn how to earn money and getting them involved in finding peaceful settlements to the conflicts.

"Women have the potential to become peacemakers and we really want to convert them into peacemakers," she said.

The office of the state minister also is commemorating the 72nd anniversary of Women's Day, which falls on Dec. 22, with a series of activities that began last month. The celebration will culminate in a ceremony at the State Palace on Dec. 22. (hdn)