Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT) has emphasized its commitment to prioritizing the protection of children from terrorism.
BNPT head Eddy Hartono underlined that children who are recruited and exploited by terror organizations are victims who need special attention and protection because they are at risk of becoming social outcasts.
"We need to prioritize the principle that recognizes children who are recruited and exploited in terrorism are victims," he said at the High-Level Dialogue on Protecting Children From Terrorism here on Wednesday, according to a statement released by the BNPT.
He stressed that the agency's commitment to cooperating with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to protect children affiliated with terrorist groups is a top priority for facing the challenge.
It is also in line with the Asta Cita programs of President Prabowo Subianto.
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The Indonesian government has so far applied a comprehensive approach to deal with violent extremism targeting children through Presidential Regulation Number 7 of 2021 concerning the National Action Plan for the Prevention and Countermeasure of Extremism Leading to Terrorism (RAN PE) 2020–2024.
The comprehensive approach has been laid down in Focus 1 Pillar 6 of the RAN PE. Though the regulation will expire soon, the government is determined to extend it to demonstrate its seriousness in tackling the issue of extremism leading to terrorism.
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Hartono noted that the BNPT has initiated the presidential regulation on RAN PE since 2021.
On the same occasion, coordinator of the UNODC Global Programme to End Violence Against Children, Alexandra Martins, lauded the RAN PE initiative, which encourages cross-sectoral collaboration and emphasizes the importance of cooperation for child protection.
She expressed the hope that through strong collaboration and commitment, effective protection of children from terrorism can be achieved to build hope and a better future for coming generations.