Child Protection Education for Female Inmates at the Bengkulu Women's Correctional Institution: A Fiqh siyasah Perspective

Abstract

Child protection education plays a crucial role in raising awareness of children's rights, preventing violence against children, and fostering responsible parenting, including among women serving custodial sentences. This study examines the implementation of child protection education for female inmates at the Bengkulu Women's Correctional Institution from the perspective of fiqh siyasah. It seeks to analyse the forms of educational interventions provided, the challenges encountered in their implementation, and their alignment with Islamic principles of governance and the protection of public welfare. This study employs a qualitative descriptive approach, using observation, interviews, and documentation to explore educational practices and the experiences of female inmates. The data are analysed thematically by examining the relationship between child protection principles, the rights of children, and the normative framework of fiqh siyasah, particularly the principles of justice (al-’adl), public welfare (maslahah), and the protection of offspring (hifz al-nasl). The study is expected to demonstrate that child protection education in correctional settings constitutes an important rehabilitative intervention that extends beyond individual awareness to support family resilience and prevent the recurrence of violence against children. From the perspective of fiqh siyasah, such education reflects the state's responsibility to safeguard children's rights through equitable, humane, and sustainable policies. Strengthening educational programmes, improving institutional collaboration, and integrating Islamic ethical values into rehabilitation initiatives are therefore essential to ensuring that female inmates can contribute to a safer and more protective environment for children after their release.