Indonesia Launches National Movement for Safe Islamic Boarding Schools

Indonesia is intensifying its efforts to ensure children's safety within its educational institutions, particularly Islamic boarding schools and madrasahs, through the launch of the National Movement #SafeAndComfortableSpaceForChildren (Gernas RANA).

This government-led initiative signifies a concrete step towards building an ecosystem that is secure, comfortable, and inclusive, free from all forms of violence against children. The movement's initial focus on pesantren and madrasahs will subsequently extend to general schools, reflecting a comprehensive approach to child protection.

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Pratikno, emphasized that the program goes beyond mere socialization. "The government strives to present programs that not only socialize but also ensure every child is protected from various forms of violence, whether physical, verbal, sexual, or digital violence," he stated during the launch event at Pesantren Al-Hamidiyah in Depok.

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The government strives to present programs that not only socialize but also ensure every child is protected from various forms of violence, whether physical, verbal, sexual, or digital violence.

The choice of Pesantren Al-Hamidiyah as the launch location was deliberate. The institution serves as a model for others across Indonesia, demonstrating a strong commitment to fostering a safe and nurturing environment. This is evidenced by the pesantren's dedicated leadership, robust internal regulations, an ethics committee, and well-functioning complaint mechanisms for violence.

Minister for Women Empowerment and Child Protection, Arifah Fauzi, highlighted the critical role of inter-ministerial and inter-agency synergy in creating safe spaces for children. "We invite all leaders of Islamic boarding schools, educators, education personnel, religious organizations, parents, and the community to work together to close every loophole for violence against children," she urged. The Gernas RANA movement aligns with several government regulations aimed at protecting children, both online and offline, and is built upon five key pillars: strengthening regulations and governance, preventing violence, and providing safe spaces.

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We invite all leaders of Islamic boarding schools, educators, education personnel, religious organizations, parents, and the community to work together to close every loophole for violence against children.