CONFLICT ZONE June 2025 ONGOING CRISIS

Crisis in West Papua

The Dire Situation Faced by Papuan Children

Decades of violent insurgency by pro-independence groups have ravaged West Papua, a Sweden-sized stretch of Indonesian territory, comprising six provinces located on the western portion of the remote, mountainous island of New Guinea. Caught in the crossfire of the conflict, and most affected by it, are millions of Papuan children, many of whom find themselves being recruited as child soldiers. This is not helped by the lack of access to education in rural regions of the territory, and the disproportionate barrier to basic amenities such as healthcare that indigenous children face, compared to their non-indigenous counterparts.

5.1x Higher infant mortality among Papuan children vs non-Papuan children

50% Of children over 5 in rural West Papua have never attended school

300-500k Children and adolescents estimated to be involved in armed conflict (2015)

Roots of the Crisis

Historical Context

Dutch Colonial Period

West Papua was once a Dutch colony, with the territory being put on the course of independence.

Indonesian Seizure

Neighbouring Indonesia seized the territory for its plentiful natural resources, disrupting the independence process.

Cycle of Extraction

A pattern of raw material extraction without reinvestment has plagued the territory, including chronically low investment in education.

Systemic Discrimination

Racist attitudes towards indigenous Papuans from the Indonesian government compound the crisis facing children today.

Education Crisis

Educational Disparities in West Papua

Only in recent years have education opportunities started to slowly expand across the rural regions of West Papua, in collaboration with UNICEF and the Indonesian government. However, due to past chronic underfunding, the level of education is still not on par with the rest of Indonesia. Combined with low educated job availability in rural areas, education is not a social norm yet, and many parents do not see the benefits of educating their children.

32% Average illiteracy rate across West Papua

8% Average illiteracy rate across Indonesia

77% Of rural students attend primary school

43% Of West Papuans complete secondary school

Educational opportunities remain limited in rural West Papua, with many children lacking access to basic schooling (UNICEFIndonesia/2018/Shehzad Noorani)

Children caught in conflict face psychological trauma and limited opportunities for normal development (Provided by Hilda Yerive from the University of Papua New Guinea)

Children in Conflict

Child Soldiers and Armed Conflict

The low level of education in West Papua has given incentive for many children to join the ranks of the underground independence movements, with an estimated 300 to 500 thousand children involved in armed conflict, which at its core is driven by historical injustices.

300-500k Children involved in armed conflict

Decades Of ongoing insurgency

6 Provinces affected by conflict

Psychological Impact on Children

This has a profound psychological effect on the children involved, with very high rates of PTSD, depression and anxiety observed, due to persistent insecurity and trauma. Their underdeveloped critical thinking skills, due to the lack of a formal education, mean they are more willing to commit atrocities, and their early exposure to violence desensitises them.

High rates of PTSD

Depression & Anxiety

Underdeveloped critical thinking

Desensitization to violence

Increased aggression levels

Cycle of re-enlistment

Studies have shown that child soldiers have an increased level of aggression, leading to a higher chance of reenlistments and voluntary recruitments, perpetuating the cycle of violence that grips West Papua. Therefore, these soldiers should not be seen as perpetrators, but as victims caught in a war with very little options.