Govt launches national movement to foster child-friendly spaces

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government on Sunday rolled out the National Movement for Safe and Comfortable Spaces for Children (RANA) at Islamic boarding schools (pesantren).

The initiative was launched collaboratively by the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection.

“Today, we are launching this initiative within educational institutions, specifically those under the Religious Affairs Ministry, namely pesantren and madrasahs,” Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno said during the movement's launch at the Al-Hamidiyah Islamic Boarding School in Depok, West Java, on Sunday.

Pratikno noted that RANA is the result of a cross-ministerial collaboration alongside religious organizations, including the Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) and the Central Board of Muhammadiyah (PP Muhammadiyah), as well as the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI).

He explained that the government is urging all stakeholders to ensure the creation of safe and comfortable spaces for children, extending beyond educational institutions to family environments, public areas, and digital spaces.

The movement, he continued, must go beyond mere awareness-raising campaigns and must instead manifest as concrete actions to prevent all forms of violence against children.

“Children must be protected from violence, whether it is physical, verbal, or sexual, as well as violence occurring in digital spaces,” he remarked.

Pratikno commended the Al-Hamidiyah Islamic Boarding School for serving as an exemplary model in implementing a child protection system through clear regulations, committed caregivers and leadership, the establishment of an ethics committee, and an active complaint mechanism.

Meanwhile, Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar stated that thousands of pesantren and tens of thousands of madrasahs across Indonesia are ready to support the initiative.

According to Umar, the launch of the movement serves as momentum to reinforce a shared commitment to eradicating violence against children in all environments.

On the same occasion, Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Arifah Fauzi noted that the movement is an implementation of various government policies, including the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) and Presidential Regulation No. 87 on the Roadmap for Child Protection in the Digital Space.

She expressed hope that the movement will successfully foster awareness among all elements of society to create safe and comfortable environments for children.

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Translator: Asep Firmanysah, Raka Adji

Editor: Azis Kurmala

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