Local rights bodies needed: DPR

JAKARTA: The House of Representatives (DPR) Commission II for legal and home affairs on Monday called for the establishment of regional branches of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) to tackle local human rights violations.

Deputy chairman of Commission II R. Gaffar said in a hearing with Komnas HAM members here on Monday that local commissions would bring human rights protection closer to local populations.

Komnas HAM members present at the hearing included Sholahudin Wahid and Zoemrotin K. Susilo.

"Local Komnas HAM offices are needed to effectively tackle all the human rights violations which are beyond the reach of the national commission," Gaffar said.

Another legislator, Akil Muchtar, said that those who were appointed to be part of regional human rights commisions must have the ability and professionalism to uphold human rights.

He also said that members of the local commissions should be natives of each area concerned with a thorough knowledge about his or her own region. --Antara