Zakat initiatives for supporting victims of violence against women and children in Indonesia

The concept of utilising zakat to support victims of violence against women and children, introduced in 2020, is a groundbreaking new initiative in Indonesia and beyond. This idea has gained traction through the efforts of the Centre for Islamic Studies, Women, and Development (PSIPP) at the Ahmad Dahlan Institute of Technology and Business (ITB-AD) Jakarta. As the pioneer of this initiative, PSIPP has implemented programmes, advocacy campaigns, and collaborations with diverse stakeholders. This study investigates PSIPP’s role as the only gender-focused research centre within Muhammadiyah-‘Aisyiyah institutions in Indonesia, highlighting its efforts in addressing sexual violence and promoting zakat for victims. Using qualitative methods, including literature reviews, interviews, documentation, and focus group discussions, the study applies a multidisciplinary framework comprising autoethnography, socio-legal systems, and maqāṣid al-sharīʿah. The findings reveal PSIPP’s success in fostering partnerships and advancing universal humanitarian values through people-to-people diplomacy, advocacy campaigns, zakat fundraising, and policy development. These efforts have resulted in the issuance of local and national policies facilitating zakat distribution to victims. However, challenges persist, particularly a lack of support from community and religious organisations due to the absence of a formal fatwa endorsing zakat for this purpose. This research contributes to the theoretical discourse of maqāṣid al-sharīʿah by reinterpreting zakat recipient categories and offers practical recommendations for policymakers, zakat institutions, and administrators to include victims of sexual violence as eligible recipients, addressing this critical societal need.