Jakarta, May 21 -- Indonesia's National Alms Agency (Baznas) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) explored joint youth development efforts to protect pesantren (Islamic boarding school) students from sexual violence and risky sexual behavior.

Baznas Head Sodik Mujahid received UNFPA at his office in Jakarta on May 18 to initiate talks, focusing on plans to implement a program on reproductive health education among adolescents, according to a statement cited on Thursday.

"We view this initiative as crucial because reproductive health and violence prevention are closely connected. It is a matter of how to factor in local cultural values while preventing free sex and developing harmonious families," he noted.

The discussion came...