Deputy Minister for Human Rights: Ethnoscience Strengthens Development and Human Rights in Papua

Deputy Minister for Human Rights Mugiyanto said that the ethnoscience approach, or knowledge based on local wisdom, can strengthen development and human rights protection in Papua. ‘Development in Papua must respect cultural identity, local knowledge, and the diversity of indigenous communities across various regions of Papua,’ Mugiyanto said at the Strategic Papua Analysts (APS) conference in Jayapura on Friday. According to Mugiyanto, Papua is not an empty land or merely an administrative region, but a living space for hundreds of civilisations and ethnic groups with diverse knowledge systems. ‘Papua has hundreds of ethnic groups and local languages that reflect cultural richness and traditional knowledge passed down through generations within communities,’ he said. He explained that Papuan ethnoscience has proven effective through local practices such as highland farming systems, marine resource management, customary law, and the ability to read natural signs to anticipate weather changes and disasters. ‘This is not ancient knowledge but empirical knowledge tested over centuries and still relevant today,’ he said. He added that some development programs in Papua have not been fully effective because the approaches used did not adequately adjust to the local social and cultural context. ‘Therefore, ethnoscience-based development must be strengthened to ensure government policies are more accepted by communities, while also reinforcing social cohesion and public trust,’ he said. He stated the Ministry of Human Rights will continue to oversee that all development policies in Papua align with human rights principles and respect the dignity and diversity of indigenous communities in the region.