Moeldoko Wants The Fulfillment Of Human Rights To District Level

Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko (doc. Presidential Staff Office)

JAKARTA - The government continues to strive to expand the protection and fulfillment of Human Rights (HAM) to the regional level, both city and district. The goal is that the fulfillment of basic rights or human rights can reach all levels of society more.

"In accordance with the President's directive so that the protection and fulfillment of human rights is not only disseminated, but also conveyed and felt by the community. So, I encourage more districts / cities to be human rights friendly," Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko as a speaker at the 2020 Human Rights Festival, Thursday, 17 December.

Moeldoko explained, from 514 districts / cities in Indonesia, 259 of them have received awards as districts / cities that care about human rights. Therefore, it is necessary to synchronize the policies of the central government and regional governments with the principles of human rights, both civil rights and political rights.

Especially, he said, on the commitment to tolerance and fulfillment of rights from various sectors, including economy, health, education, rights for groups with disabilities and vulnerable groups, as well as other rights.

On the other hand, Moeldoko explained, the COVID-19 pandemic which has changed all aspects of life should not substantively affect the protection and fulfillment of people's human rights.

Therefore, Moeldoko reiterated President Joko Widodo's directive which stated that the Central Government and Regional Governments should continue to advance human rights under any circumstances.

"Do not let the crisis bring setbacks, but turn the crisis into a momentum to achieve a big leap. In this case, the Government has moved quickly through various regulations, fulfilling the budget while still prioritizing public safety and health, "said Moeldoko.

Moeldoko also reminded that the 2020 Human Rights Festival could be a momentum for all parties to prioritize and implement human rights principles proactively. That way, the 2020 Human Rights Festival can map issues of human rights protection that have gone unnoticed and solutions are found.

At the same forum, Head of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) Ahmad Taufan Damanik explained that the COVID-19 pandemic has an impact on the respect and protection of human rights around the world, especially on health rights.

Ahmad also explained how the main principle of HAK is that if one right is reduced then the other rights will be reduced, on the contrary if one right is fulfilled it will complement the other rights.

"Through the 2020 Human Rights Festival, hopefully it will become a bridge for all parties to share knowledge and experiences together as a form of respect and protection of human rights," said Taufan Damanik.

Chairman of the International NGO Forum on Indonesia (INFID) Totok Yulianto, who was also present in a virtual manner, revealed that basically the Central Government, supported by the Regional Government, is responsible for fulfilling people's human rights.

Therefore, Totok said, implementing a human rights friendly district / city is a new strategy in advancing human rights that is developed globally. Totok also hopes that efforts to respect and protect human rights can run well during the COVID-19 pandemic.

So far the Human Rights Festival has been held since 2014 in various cities. The 2020 Human Rights Festival takes place in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan. With the theme 'Upholding Human Rights in the Covid-19 Pandemic: Challenges and Solutions' which was held virtually.