Exhibits, performances to promote human rights
Exhibits, performances to promote human rights
JAKARTA (JP): Photography and art exhibitions and theatrical
performances will be among various activities staged as part of a
campaign held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the
Universal Human Rights Declaration.
Other activities including free movie screenings, poster and
writing contests, and talks on human rights will also be part of
the campaign to increase public awareness of the issue.
The campaign, which will be held between Sept. 7 and Dec. 10
in 11 cities in Java, has been set up by 19 non-government
organizations with the theme "peace in plurality," organizers
said here on Thursday.
The targeted cities include Jakarta; Bandung in West Java;
Surabaya, Jember, Kediri in East Java; Solo and Purwokerto in
Central Java; and Yogyakarta. Other cities may be added with the
help of local organizations.
"We want to socialize respect for human rights into people's
everyday lives," Ita Fatia Nadia from the Kalyanamitra women's
organization said.
The 19 non-government organizations (NGOs) who have set up the
campaign include the Jakarta Social Institute (ISJ), the
Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM), the
Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), the Indonesian Women's
Coalition for Justice and Democracy, the Solidarity Forum for
East Timor (FORTILOS) and the Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ).
Other NGOs representing religious groups include the
Indonesian Association of Moslem Students (PMII) and the
Christian Service Network (JKLPK).
On June 26, President B.J. Habibie launched a five-year
National Action Plan on Human Rights. He said promoting respect
for human rights would require an effort on the parts of both the
government and society at large.
The government has yet to ratify the United Nations Convention
Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment
or Punishment and the Convention on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination.
Recent reports have focused on violations of human rights
including kidnaping, rape and violence that occurred in the run
up to and during the May riots and in military operation areas in
East Timor and Aceh.
"Human rights should be upheld and protected," said Bambang
Widjojanto, who heads YLBHI.
He said four major aspects of the New Order government's
ideology, namely militarism, patriarchy, discrimination and the
culture of imposing a single interpretation, had led to human
rights violations.
The leaflet gave examples of a "culture of single
interpretation" including the interpretation of the state
ideology and others which "led to the death of creativity."
Patriarchy, the handout said, "was institutionalized" in the
New Order, leading to a limitation of women's role in society.
Bambang also said that violence became common in the New Order
era during a media conference held to announce the campaign at
ELSAM's office.
Asmara Nababan, who is education secretary at the National
Commission on Human Rights, outlined the commission's efforts at
public education to date at the media conference.
"We held workshops on human rights for 50 teachers in Cianjur
(West Java) and 30 teachers in Ujungpandang (South Sulawesi) in
June," Asmara told the media.
Human rights workshops were also held for around 100 police
and military personnel in May, he said, adding that the results
of the workshops would be evaluated in November. (01)