Moeldoko: The Government Focuses On Developing Human Rights Friendly Cities

Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko said that the Government continues to initiate the Human Rights Friendly City (HAM) program to improve the quality of people's lives based on human rights standards.

According to Moeldoko, this is also a realization of the recognition, respect and fulfillment of human rights of urban communities by local governments (Pemda).

"I appreciate the very constructive and collaborative cooperation and synergy between the Government, Komnas HAM, NGOs including INFID, which together with the Presidential Staff Office are the initiators of the Human Rights City and District Program," said Moeldoko when opening the World Human Rights City Forum. 2020 (World Human Right Cities Forum), according to a press release in Jakarta, reported by Antara, Friday, October 9.

He said the Human Rights Friendly City and District Program has been implemented for the past five years and will continue to be implemented every year in the future.

Moeldoko said President Joko Widodo in his speech to commemorate International Human Rights Day 2015 had emphasized the need to multiply and expand the implementation of Human Rights Friendly Cities and Districts such as Wonosobo, Solo, and so on.

Based on the internationally agreed principles of Human Rights City, in 2013 the Government of Indonesia established a policy of “District and City Cares for Human Rights” as a paradigm shift from technocratic policies to rights-based policies.

"Therefore, Human Rights City is very relevant for Indonesia," he said.

The implementation of Human Rights City in Indonesia which is carried out at the initiative of the community or at the instigation of the government has challenges that must be faced, including the commitment of the regional head so that it is realized and sustainable.

He said the adoption of a human rights friendly district and city framework in Indonesia was first carried out in 2014 by Wonosobo District.

The Regional Government of Wonosobo implements regional policies on the protection and promotion of the rights of migrant workers, women and children, persons with disabilities and protection of religious minorities.

“Wonosobo's success story has attracted attention from other regional heads who are young and open-minded to the importance of implementing inclusive human right-based policies and prioritizing the principle of no one left behind. Other Human Rights Friendly Cities Bojonegoro, Surakarta, Jember, Palu, Semarang, Salatiga and Banjarmasin are the organizers of the 2020 Human Rights Festival, "said Moeldoko.

He conveyed that Indonesia uses two approaches in realizing Human Rights Friendly Districts and Cities, namely at the initiative of the local government and at the encouragement of the central government.

Many civil society groups have accelerated the approach initiated by the regional government through the Human Rights Friendly City and District program.

Meanwhile, the approach initiated by the central government was carried out by the Ministry of Law and Human Rights through the Human Rights Care District and City program. The two approaches are complementary.

"I hope that good initiatives in the implementation of human rights at the regional level within the framework of a Human Rights Friendly City and District can be promoted, which aims not only to improve the condition of human rights at home, but also so that Indonesia can contribute to peace at the global level. , "Said Moeldoko.

The Human Rights City Forum is usually held with great fanfare in the City of Gwangju, South Korea, which is very historic in the Human Rights and Democracy movement in South Korea.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year Indonesia is participating online but without reducing the spirit of the forum.

"On behalf of the Indonesian government, as the Presidential Chief of Staff of the Republic of Indonesia, I would like to congratulate and welcome the holding of the 10th World Human Rights Cities Forum. This forum is very strategic in providing motivation and encouragement for local governments to play a more active role in these initiatives, "explained Moeldoko.

On this occasion, Komnas HAM Chairman Ahmad Taufan Damanik said that after the reform era the Indonesian government carried out decentralization in which regulations were distributed and authority rests with the regional government.

This plays an important role in realizing a human rights friendly city.

"The Human Rights City Forum is a good initiative in promoting human rights from normative principles towards initiatives and concrete practices of the state as the main duty bearer of right in the promotion, protection and fulfillment of human rights," Ahmad Taufan explained.