Indonesia Recalls Human Rights Progression, Challenges at United Nations UPR

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government through a delegation led by the Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly represented Indonesia in the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the UN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. 

Standing before the UN member states, Yasonna presented the country’s achievements and challenges in terms of national development in the field of human rights in the past 5 years. 

“We made a lot of progress but the Indonesian government does not neglect the varying challenges, especially as we all face the difficulties surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic,” Yassona wrote in a statement on November 9, Antaranews reported. 

Indonesian democracy was thoroughly tested during the arrival of the Pandemic, the passing of various laws and regulations, the dynamics of law enforcement, the increasingly dynamic role of civil society, and global and regional geopolitical conditions are some of the phenomena that have colored national development in the field of human rights over the last 5 years.

Minister Yasonna acknowledges that UPR is an important moment to show the commitment of the Indonesian government to implementing human rights in the eyes of the world. The trial is the 4th cycle, having previously been held in 2017.

UPR is a quadrennial forum that promotes dialogue and cooperation aimed at increasing the capacity of UN member states in implementing commitments for the advancement and protection of human rights, in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 60/251 of 2006.

In an interactive dialogue in Geneva yesterday which was attended by 108 UN member countries, the Indonesian Delegation was subjected to questions and recommendations regarding policies to promote human rights. 

A number of issues were noted, including the revision of the Criminal Code, the death penalty policy, the optional ratification of the anti-torture convention protocol, freedom of religion and expression, the issue of protection of the rights of women, children and disabilities, and issues related to Papua.

Besides Indonesia, the current UPR review in November saw 13 other countries presenting their case namely Algeria, South Africa, Brazil, the Netherlands, Bahrain, Ecuador, Finland, the Philippines, India, England, Morocco, Poland, and Tunisia.

The Indonesian delegation in the 4th UPR Dialogue included elements from the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Law and Human Rights, District Secretariat, Attorney General's Office, Police, Ministry of Social Affairs, and the Constitutional Court. 

The UPR Indonesia dialogue was also attended by Indonesian Human Rights Institutions such as Komnas HAM and Komnas Perempuan, as well as national and international NGOs, including Kontras, Amnesty International Indonesia, OHANA, Human Rights Watch Group, and Franciscan International and more.

ANTARA

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