This was conveyed by Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi while attending the ministerial meeting of the 9th Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF) on the sidelines of the 73rd UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.
"We emphasize that women can become the targets of recruitment (as terrorists), but they can also be the agents of peace," Marsudi stated.
As an illustration, the GCTF is an informal multilateral platform comprising 30 member countries.
The forum, established in 2011, is tasked with responding to collaborative efforts to combat terrorism by involving its member countries.
The GCTF is focused on efforts to gather resources, expertise, information, and things that will be considered crucial in the efforts to counter terrorism.
Member countries agree on the need for international cooperation, as the threat of terrorism is cross-border in nature and has involved non-state actors.
Terrorism today has also employed a method of radicalism, which from time to time has evolved from a conventional one, using weapons and bombs, to also utilizing information technology.
Indonesia is the only country in Southeast Asia to have been approached to become a member. This demonstrates that the cooperation related to counterterrorism involved Indonesia as one of the key countries.
Indonesia is viewed as having a comprehensive approach that promotes dialog in the face of terrorism threats.
"Hence, I had said earlier that if we want to eradicate terrorism, it cannot only be done at the policy-making level but must also reach the community level, involve cooperation with families, and so on," the Indonesian foreign minister remarked.
Marsudi cited the example of the Peace Village initiative initiated by the Wahid Institute, with the objective of making a tolerant and peaceful community that provides empowerment to women by increasing their abilities in economic activities.
The Wahid Foundation has collaborated with UN Women to develop a Peace Village initiative that aims to involve women in an effort to build a peaceful and independent society.
Reporting by Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Editing by Otniel, Eliswan
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
