A bold step toward creating violence-free, child-friendly pesantren nationwide.

JAKARTA — The Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) has taken a decisive step to safeguard children’s rights in religious education by establishing a National Task Force for the Prevention and Handling of Violence. The initiative underscores the government’s determination to ensure that pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) become safe, nurturing, and dignified environments for students.

“Every educational institution, including pesantren, must be a safe haven—free from violence and conducive to children’s growth,” said Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar during the national rollout of the task force in Jakarta on Sunday (October 26, 2025).

The new task force forms part of MoRA’s long-term roadmap for Child-Friendly Pesantren (PRA) development, reinforcing earlier regulatory milestones such as:

• Ministerial Regulation No. 73/2022 on the prevention of sexual violence,
• Ministerial Decree No. 83/2023 on guidelines for sexual violence response, and
• Ministerial Decree No. 91/2025, which formalizes MoRA’s institutional commitment to child safety.

Complementing these, the Directorate General of Islamic Education has issued detailed technical guides through Decree No. 4836/2022 and No. 1262/2024, setting frameworks for non-violent caregiving and safe learning environments.

Digital and Cross-Ministerial Synergy

To ensure effective protection, MoRA is collaborating with the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (MoWECP) to strengthen preventive measures and promote positive parenting.

Director General Amien Suyitno explained that MoRA has designated 512 pesantren as pilot projects under Decree No. 1541/2025. The Ministry also launched Telepontren, a WhatsApp-based hotline (+62 822 2666 1854) for quick, secure, and anonymous case reporting.

“We’re encouraging pesantren to develop integrated reporting systems directly connected to MoRA, the Child Protection Commission, and the National Commission on Violence Against Women,” Suyitno noted.

Empowering Communities Through Education

MoRA’s campaign goes beyond policy enforcement. The Ministry is running the Child-Friendly Pesantren Scientific Writing Competition and using Mata Santri orientation programs to instill child protection values. Training initiatives with Lakpesdam PBNU are also underway in 17 pesantren nationwide to improve responses to sexual violence.

Ismail Cawidu, the Minister’s Special Staff for Public Policy and Media, highlighted the growing awareness among pesantren communities.

“Pesantren leaders are taking this seriously. They’re open to working with women’s groups, NGOs, and universities to make this transformation real,” he said.

A Roadmap for Systemic Change

MoRA’s Child-Friendly Pesantren Roadmap spans three stages:

• Foundation Phase (2025–2026): policy socialization, training, and task force formation.
• Acceleration Phase (2027–2028): replication across more pesantren and institutional strengthening.
• Sustainability Phase (2029): integration of child-friendly principles into pesantren governance.

“With robust regulations, digital innovation, and strong intersectoral collaboration, Indonesia’s pesantren will grow into truly safe, compassionate, and violence-free educational spaces,” Minister Nasaruddin affirmed.

UIN Sunan Kalijaga’s Endorsement

The initiative has been warmly welcomed by UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, which praised MoRA’s leadership in child protection. The university’s Integrated Service Center for the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence (PPT-PKS) continues to champion a campus culture of safety and empathy through education, assistance, and survivor-centered reporting systems.

“This aligns perfectly with our vision to build an inclusive, violence-free academic environment,” said Rector Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan.