"Every educational institution, including ordinary schools, madrasahs (Islamic schools), and pesantrens, must serve as child-friendly places free from violence," Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar stated in Jakarta on Sunday.
He noted that his ministry had issued several regulatory instruments addressing the issue, including a 2022 regulation on preventive and responsive measures for sexual violence in religious schools, a 2023 decree outlining relevant steps, and a 2024 directorate general decree promoting child-friendly care in pesantrens.
These instruments have been further strengthened by a 2025 ministerial decree aimed at tightening violence prevention measures in educational institutions.
Umar described the instruments as practical guidelines for ministry officials and education stakeholders to intensify their efforts to curb violence within the learning environment.
He then cited a research project conducted on 514 pesantrens between 2023 and 2024, which found a small number of schools to be highly vulnerable to sexual violence.
On that note, the minister urged pesantrens with effective prevention systems to share their best practices with others that still need guidance.
He added that his ministry had partnered with the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection to strengthen measures ensuring that all pesantren students are protected from violence and their rights are fully upheld.
The two ministries, he continued, have agreed to cooperate in promoting values that support children’s growth and providing assistance to students who have experienced physical, psychological, or sexual violence.
"We are committed to this cause. Strategic steps have been laid out in a road map designed to help us realize child-friendly pesantrens," Umar affirmed.
To further strengthen pesantren governance nationwide, the government has also decided to establish a directorate general dedicated to such schools within the Religious Affairs Ministry—an initiative approved by President Prabowo Subianto.
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Translator: Asep F, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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