Moving policy forwards: Indonesian officials discuss how to shape a new national strategy against violent extremism
Date:
Author: Mutia Salma
Jakarta, Indonesia — Indonesia has a long history of terrorism, social conflicts and disasters. All community members including women must be involved in policymaking is the country is to build an inclusive and lasting peace.
On 23 April 2025, representatives from national ministries and subnational government agencies convened in Jakarta to discuss the forthcoming Presidential Regulation on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Leading to Terrorism 2025–2029, the country’s second such national action plan.
Andhika Chrisnayudhanto, Deputy Head of International Cooperation at the National Agency for Counter-Terrorism, said he hoped that the meeting’s conclusions will lead to a national action plan that reflects the needs and aspirations of the community for a safer, more prosperous and just Indonesia.
In 2019, Indonesia adopted its first National Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Leading to Terrorism. Led by the Deputy Head of International Cooperation at the National Agency for Counter-Terrorism, 126 out of 135 planned activities (93.33 percent) were implemented. This was made possible through collaboration among-ministries and agencies that improved reliable monitoring and data collection, the capacity of government officials and international cooperation.
The National Agency for Counter-Terrorism is now leading development of the second national action plan. The new action plan covers family and community resilience, protection and empowerment of women, youths and children, strategic communication, de-radicalization, rehabilitation, social reintegration, and just and good governance.
UN Women is working with the National Agency for Counter-Terrorism to ensure that the national action plan and related policies can serve the specific needs of women and girls and give them an active role in preventing and countering extremism and terrorism.
“Violent extremism is a threat to women. Advancing human security is central to upholding women’s rights,” said Dwi Faiz, Head of Programmes, UN Women Indonesia, at the 23 April in the intergovernmental meeting.
A total of 111 people attended the meeting in person, including 49 women, from 25 government ministries and agencies, and 193, including 51 women, from 165 subnational agencies nationwide attended online. Discussions focused on aligning the national action plan with Asta Cita, the Government’s eight priorities for national development.
The intergovernmental meeting followed a similar consultation attended by 90 participants from 30 civil society organizations.
The meetings were part of UN Women’s WE NEXUS project, funded by Korea International Cooperation Agency. The project is working to integrate the intertwined concerns of women, peace, security, humanitarian response and development into national policies, so that they can effectively counter the intertwined threats of extremism, terrorism, social conflict, disaster and climate crisis, cross-border displacement, and technology-facilitated threats.