Deputy Minister of Human Rights Affirms State's Duty to Protect Human Dignity

Deputy Minister of Human Rights Mugiyanto has affirmed that the state must be present to safeguard human dignity and worth through tangible protection, including by strengthening responses to various human rights issues developing within society.

“Human rights work must not stop at slogans, documents, or speeches alone, but must be realised through policies and actions that provide direct benefits to the community,” Mugiyanto said in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday.

At the “Cangkrukan Kemanusiaan: Wakil Menteri HAM Mirengaken Aktivis HAM Suroboyo” forum in Surabaya on Friday (19/6), attended by journalists, students, advocates, women activists, religious freedom campaigners, and civil society organisations, Mugiyanto emphasised the importance of protecting civic space as part of strengthening democracy.

“Students and journalists are elements of civil society. They are part of the pillars of democracy. Therefore, violence against journalists and students must be a serious concern because it involves civil liberties and the quality of our democracy,” he said.

A number of participants raised various human rights issues in East Java, ranging from alleged violence against journalists during reporting, the need for clearer human rights complaint mechanisms, to the protection of freedom of expression.

Student representatives also highlighted the impact of several public policies on community rights, including safety and health aspects, while other participants raised issues of human trafficking, victim protection, and agrarian conflicts.

Rauf, an activist from a non-governmental organisation, said land conflicts need to be viewed more broadly than just administrative disputes.

“Agrarian conflict is a human rights issue because it involves living space, sources of livelihood, social identity, and the dignity of citizens,” he said.

The issue of religious freedom also drew attention. Anggi, a journalist active in the Catholic journalists’ community, conveyed the existence of obstacles in the process of building houses of worship even though administrative requirements had been fulfilled.

Responding to the various inputs, Mugiyanto stated that the Ministry of Human Rights is working to strengthen its role in preventing and resolving human rights issues through cross-sector coordination.

He stressed that his ministry is not only focused on handling issues after violations occur, but also on strengthening preventive measures from the outset.

“The Ministry of Human Rights is not only tasked with resolving downstream issues, but also with resolving upstream issues,” Mugiyanto said.