Belgia Learns Social Rehabilitation for Children Exposed by Violent Extremism in MoSA

JAKARTA (17 October 2023) – Technical Implementation Unit Ministry of Social Affairs, Handayani Center in Jakarta, received The Coordination Unit for Threat Analysis / CUTA team. This visit aims to learn from the Indonesian government efforts done by the Ministry of Social Affairs related to social rehabilitation for children and women exposed to violent extremism value.

Director of CUTA Gert Vercautereen said Belgia faced the issue of extremism as faced by Indonesia. Belgia tries to look for the best approach to handle people exposed to violent extremism value.

"It is the reason why I came here to Indonesia. It is because Indonesia has an extraordinary approach, like a center for social rehabilitation. In Belgia, there is no center yet. We will learn, and we will try to think about building this kind of center in Belgia," he said.

Ambassador of Belgium to Indonesia Frank Felix appreciates the Indonesian Government's Performance. According to him, the social rehabilitation program at Handayani Center is an implementation of government regulation.

"We are a regulation maker, and after visiting this place, we can oversee how the regulation has been practicable. We see children happy and smiling. This experience is very memorable," he said.

Handayani Center of MoSA is the only center in Indonesia that provides social rehabilitation for children exposed to violent extremism. Head of Handayani Center, Romal Uli Jaya Sinaga, said that the rehabilitation program had been implemented since 2016, and it helped 263 children and families exposed to extremism, whether from domestic or overseas. The Indonesian deportees and returnees come from 10 countries.

Romal said this visit from the Belgia Delegation, along with Belgium Ambassador to Indonesia Frank Felix, was facilitated by the National Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT). "In Indonesia, Handayani Center is the only center that implemented best practices on handling exposed children. This is already running since 2016," said Romal.

Ministry of Social Affairs provides rehabilitation for children of the perpetrators, witnesses and victims of violent extremism or terrorism, both from domestic or abroad. Rehabilitation is given in accordance with every child's needs because children have a right to grow, develop, and be free from unsafe environments. "Besides, we have to help children to have a bright future," added Romal. Ministry of Social Affairs facilitates integrated social rehabilitation, starting from fulfilling basic needs, education, and psychosocial therapy.

Director of Bilateral Cooperation of National Counter Terrorism Agency Brigadier-General of Police Kris Erlangga AW said this site visit to Handayani Center is the implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding between Belgium and Indonesia governments. The site visit aims to share information and best practices in handling violent extremism in both states. "The implementation joins a working group that is a form of a site visit to Handayani Center of MoSA," he said.

Handayani Centre is one of 31 technical units of the Ministry of Social Affairs that have social rehabilitation services for all of the Social Welfare for People in Need, such as persons with disabilities, older people, and Children in Need of Specific Protection. Children who need specific protection are children with terrorist networks and children against the law in terrorism cases.