RI signs UN protocol on women's rights

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia signed the protocol of the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (UN-CEDAW) on Monday.

Representing the government of Indonesia was State Minister of the Empowerment of Women Khofifah Indar Parawansa, who signed the protocol along with representatives from 25 other countries at UN Headquarters in New York.

Indonesia became the first Southeast Asian country to sign the protocol, which was declared in December 1979 and legally binding since Sept. 3, 1981, to protect the political, economic and sociocultural rights of women. A total of 165 countries have ratified the convention.

The protocol allows women to report human rights abuses to the UN Commission on Human Rights. The commission can order follow-up actions, including conducting investigations.

"The signing of the protocol shows Indonesia's commitment to human rights because it will allow the UN to investigate in the country if there are reports of human rights abuses of women," Indonesia's representative to the UN Makarim Wibisono told Antara.

He said many countries were reluctant to accept international intervention in their cases of rights abuses.

Indonesia has been under scrutiny by the international community for human rights violations following the August self- determination ballot in East Timor. The government has repeatedly rejected the possibility of trying the alleged perpetrators of the mayhem in an international tribunal. (dja)