Foreign Minister Retno Said the UN Human Rights Council Must Handle Israel's Serious Violations

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. (Source: Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi wants the UN Human Rights Council to carry out its obligations regarding the crisis in the Gaza Strip which has so far caused the deaths of around 30,000 Palestinian residents in the region.

Present at the High-Level Segment of the 55th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday, which also marked the start of Indonesia's membership in the council for the 2024-206 period, Foreign Minister Retno conveyed a number of important things related to human rights issues.

"In Indonesia's national statement, I said that the Human Rights Council must carry out its obligations to deal with serious human rights violations committed by Israel against the Palestinian people," said Foreign Minister Retno in a statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tuesday, February 27.

Furthermore, Foreign Minister Retno conveyed three things related to human rights issues. First, he said there was a need to strengthen the human rights ecosystem. According to her, it is a shared collective responsibility.

In ASEAN, he continued, Indonesia is encouraging the strengthening of the human rights ecosystem through the Leaders' Declaration on the ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue. Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, Indonesia is encouraging the fulfillment of educational rights for women.

Foreign Minister Retno further said that she also emphasized the importance of adequate funding for the Office of the High Commission for Human Rights and other important mechanisms, such as the Commission of Inquiry regarding the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as support for the Human Rights Council in providing technical assistance and capacity building for member countries.

"The second thing I conveyed at the Human Rights Council meeting was the importance of intensifying efforts to overcome the humanitarian crisis. The refugee crisis, which was triggered by war and conflict, requires global cooperation and solidarity to overcome it, including fulfilling obligations in the Refugee Convention," said Foreign Minister Retno.

"Humanitarian mechanisms must also be strengthened and must not be politicized. I say, we must not remain silent about stopping funding for UNRWA, while funds to support war crimes in Gaza continue to flow," he said.

Finally, Foreign Minister Retno emphasized that the protection and promotion of human rights must be carried out equally. He said that every country's development rights must be respected, in order to guarantee prosperity and achieve the SDGs.

"Collaboration also needs to be directed at ensuring the rights of vulnerable communities, especially women, people with disabilities, and migrants," concluded Foreign Minister Retno.