Indonesia Strengthens Measures to Combat Child Recruitment and Abuse

RRI.CO.ID, Rio de Janeiro - Indonesia continues to strengthen its efforts to combat the recruitment and exploitation of children by armed and organized criminal groups. This was conveyed by Indonesian Ambassador to Brazil, Andhika Chrisnayudhanto, at a conference on the Prevention and Response to Violence against Children and Adolescents.

The conference was organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in collaboration with the Brazilian Ministry of Justice and Public Security in Rio de Janeiro on March 23–24, 2026.

“Indonesia continues to strengthen its efforts to combat the recruitment and exploitation of children by armed and organized criminal groups, including terrorist groups,” Ambassador Andhika said at the conference, which focused on child protection in the context of organized crime.

He explained that following the 2018 Surabaya tragedy, Indonesia shifted its approach from a sectoral and repressive strategy to one centered on child protection, rights-based policies, and rehabilitation and reintegration.

The Surabaya tragedy in May 2018 was a series of coordinated suicide bombings carried out by families linked to ISIS, targeting churches and police facilities in Surabaya, East Java. The attacks killed at least 12 civilians and injured more than 50, while also involving children as perpetrators.

Through its partnership with the UNODC, Indonesia has strengthened its policy framework and enhanced national capacity, including training for more than 400 cross-sector stakeholders.

“These efforts extend to the community level, involving 17 schools and 46 counselors, reaching over 15,000 children and more than 150,000 individuals through the #AmbilAndil campaign,” he said.

Indonesia also plays an active role at the regional and global levels, including through the Bali Call for Action and UN resolutions that emphasize protection, prevention, and child rehabilitation.

According to Ambassador Andhika, Indonesia and Brazil have a strategic opportunity to strengthen child protection through transformative collaboration. “This can be achieved through the exchange of good practices, capacity building, and partnerships oriented towards sustainable impact at the regional and global levels,” he said. (Misni Parjiati/Lasti Martina)