TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Human Rights Watch or HRW said Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s final year in office produced no major initiatives to address the country's human rights problems.

HRW released a yearly report highlighting human rights practices in over 100 countries on Thursday, January 11. The US-based group said President Jokowi made little use of his last year in office to seek reverse for the longstanding human rights problems faced by Indonesians because of their religion, gender, or ethnicity.

"The next president should waste no time tackling the rights issues that President Jokowi created or ignored," said HRW Asia Director Elaine Pearson in a written statement.

The 740-page report also highlighted the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) role in signing off the new criminal code in December 2022, which will go into effect in January 2026. Articles in the new code violate the rights of women, religious minorities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, and undermine the rights to freedom of speech and association.

HRW also highlighted the arbitrary arrest and prosecution by Indonesian authorities in West Papua who expressed views in support of peaceful self-determination.

"The authorities also restrict travel and access to West Papua by foreign media, diplomats, and human rights monitors," the report noted.

According to the World Report 2024, HRW also reported that Local and provincial governments pressure girls and women to wear the hijab, citing the statement of The National Commission on Violence Against Women. The commission revealed in August 2023 that localities have put into effect 73 mandatory hijab regulations for schoolchildren.

HRW also said that many government officials’ biased statements provided justifications for officials and vigilantes’ harassment and violence against LGBT people.

The Presidential Palace has not responded to this report. Jokowi himself is currently abroad on a visit to the Philippines Vietnam, and Brunei Darussalam.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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