Jakarta. Indonesia and Australia have pledged to jointly address the issue of children involved with terrorist groups. A resolution passed at the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) forum in Vienna, Austria, in May marks a significant step in their cooperation.

"Indonesia and Australia share a common concern regarding children associated with terrorism. Therefore, support from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) is essential for implementing this resolution," said Commissioner General Rycko Amelza Dahniel, Head of Indonesia's National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT), during a meeting with AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw on Friday.

Initiated by BNPT, the resolution aims to end violence and protect children as part of a long-term strategy to combat terrorism.

"The global commitment to protect children must be a shared priority," Rycko added.

Following the resolution, BNPT will convene an Inter-governmental Expert Group (IEG) meeting early next year. This meeting will discuss guidelines for handling children associated with terrorism as a concrete step toward safeguarding future generations.

Peaceful Schools Program

BNPT has implemented the Peaceful Schools program to prevent the spread of radical terrorist ideologies. Previously, the program was conducted in Islamic boarding schools in Palu, Central Sulawesi; Serang, Banten; and Banyuwangi, East Java.

BNPT's Director of Prevention, Irfan Idris, noted a shift in the demographics of terrorism perpetrators. While men were traditionally the primary actors, women and children are now increasingly being exploited. Examples include the family bombings in Surabaya, attacks on churches in Makassar and Sibolga, Zakiah Aini's assault on the National Police Headquarters, and Dita's plan to bomb the Presidential Palace.

According to Irfan Idris, children exposed to radical ideologies cannot be entirely blamed as they navigate a new, expansive world with unrestricted access to information.

Therefore, teachers must support and monitor students to filter the information they receive.

"Terrorism exists because of radicalism. Hence, we prioritize education, as only education and religion can prevent someone from adopting radical beliefs. However, factors such as disappointment, economic issues, and others also play a role," Irfan Idris stated in May.

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