Duration: September 2013 – September 2016
Location: Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Central Java, Central Sulawesi
Partners: Yayasan Prasasti Perdamaian
Status: Completed
Overview
The Reducing Recruitment and Recidivism of Violent Extremists in Indonesia project aimed to address two critical challenges in preventing violent extremism: the recruitment of vulnerable youth into extremist networks and the risk of recidivism among released terrorism-related offenders. Through collaboration with schools, universities, civil society, and government partners, the project sought to build resilience, promote tolerance, and strengthen institutional capacity to prevent and respond to radicalization.
Context
Since the 2002 Bali bombing, Indonesia has faced recurring threats of violent extremism, particularly targeting young people through recruitment in educational institutions. As of mid-2013, youth accounted for more than half of identified terrorism perpetrators nationwide. The project emerged from this concern, focusing on prevention efforts within schools and universities while supporting reintegration pathways for former extremist prisoners.
Tragic recidivism cases, such as the 2016 Samarinda Church bombing and the earlier Sarinah attack, underscored the urgent need for effective post-release monitoring and rehabilitation mechanisms. These incidents highlighted systemic gaps in reintegration for non-parole former inmates, leading to stronger coordination among government agencies, law enforcement, and civil society to support policy reform and preventive measures.
Objectives
- Prevent recruitment of high-risk youth in schools and universities through education and engagement.
- Reduce recidivism among former extremist offenders by building the capacity of correctional and social service institutions.
- Raise community awareness about the dangers of recruitment and recidivism through collaborative outreach and dialogue.
Key Activities
- Workshops to strengthen student-led peacebuilding initiatives.
- Seed grants for youth-driven projects promoting tolerance through multimedia.
- Cipta Damai Multimedia Competition and Festival to amplify creative expressions of peace.
- Stakeholder collaboration between government, CSOs, educators, and private sectors to create safe environments for youth and ex-offenders.
Impact
The project effectively enhanced participants’ understanding of violent extremism and strengthened their capacity to identify and challenge intolerant narratives. Youth participants demonstrated increased awareness of hate-based propaganda and a stronger preference for dialogue in resolving conflict.
The initiative also fostered stronger cooperation among civil society organizations, government institutions, and educators. These partnerships helped reduce the susceptibility of former offenders to re-engage with extremist groups and built lasting networks among schools and communities that continue to promote peace and inclusion.
