House Commission XIII Pushes for Acceleration of Regulations to Protect Human Rights Defenders

JAKARTA — Commission XIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives is pushing for the acceleration of regulations to strengthen protection for human rights defenders. This push emerged following attention to the case affecting human rights activist Andrie Yunus.

Deputy Chair of Commission XIII of the House of Representatives, Dewi Asmara, assessed that protective measures need to be strengthened through more comprehensive and implementable policies. These efforts are expected to provide certainty and security for human rights fighters in the field.

“We agree that there should be no room for violence in a democratic country. However, as a Minister (Pigai), a statement of condemnation alone is not enough,” Dewi said.

In a working meeting with the Ministry of Human Rights, Dewi highlighted the importance of accelerating the drafting of the Draft Ministerial Regulation on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders. She referred to the ministry’s presentation which showed that progress on formulating the regulation is still limited.

“It’s very low, only reaching 10 percent (achievement of the formulation of the Ministerial Regulation on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders),” Dewi said.

According to Dewi, the regulation is an important instrument for strengthening a more structured protection system. The presence of clear rules is seen as able to support preventive as well as responsive measures against various risks faced by activists.

“When will this Ministerial Regulation on Protection for Human Rights Defenders be completed comprehensively? We urge that the regulation become a priority for resolution this month,” Dewi said.

Dewi added that the completion of the regulation is important to ensure that the state is present in providing real protection.

“This is to shield human rights fighters from various forms of intimidation and terror,” Dewi said.

Commission XIII of the House of Representatives hopes that this discussion can encourage the acceleration of government steps in strengthening the overall human rights protection framework.

“Of course, binding legal products that protect are needed, not just mere rhetoric,” Dewi said.