Government Emphasises Media Collaboration as Key to Strengthening Human Rights Development

Jakarta — The Government has stated that collaboration with media is an important step to strengthen human rights development in Indonesia through the dissemination of educational information and public oversight.

Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai said the press has a strategic role in building public awareness of human rights values whilst strengthening democratic practice.

“Without involving the media community and the press community, it would be difficult. Because in any case, the press is one of the greatest forces capable of building the civilisation of human rights development in our country, the Republic of Indonesia,” Pigai said following the Kick Off and Launch of the Media Press and Human Rights Civilisation Development Programme in Jakarta on Wednesday.

According to him, media is not merely a vehicle for conveying information, but also an important pillar of democracy that can help expand public understanding of national development.

He said media has a role in campaigning human rights development efforts across various sectors, including in the civil and political fields as well as economic, social, and cultural spheres.

“Media must be able to campaign positive things about national development, especially human rights development in the civil and political fields, in the economic, social, and cultural fields,” he said.

The collaboration between government and media, Pigai continued, is expected to build a constructive dialogue space and strengthen public participation in efforts to promote human rights.

He also hoped that similar cooperation can be conducted by ministries, institutions, and local governments to expand media involvement in building a civilisation based on respect for human rights.