TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD on Tuesday, Feb. 9, pledged to expedite the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT).

This was mentioned while Mahfud paid a visit to the Torture Prevention Coalition (KuPP) that consists of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK), the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), the National Children Protection Commission, and the Ombudsman.

Despite already having a plethora of human rights watchdogs, he argued that the country’s protection of human rights still needs to be improved and can be realized by ratifying the OPCAT.

“We came here to meet the coordinating minister because we know that he has strong commitments to uphold the law and also cares for human rights issues,” said Komnas HAM chairperson Ahmad Taufan Damanik.

Mahfud assured that he will continue to coordinate with the Law and Human Rights Ministry upon the ratification of OPCAT.

The coalition said that it had launched a memorandum of understanding with the ministry’s directorate general of corrections and immigrations and it is reportedly being handled by the National Police.

“The role of the coordinating minister (Mahfud MD) is hugely expected as he could expedite and ensure that this issue can be handled properly,” said Damanik.

Read: Mahfud Md Vows to Follow Up Komnas HAM Findings on Police-FPI Clash

ANTARA