Mahfud MD Explains Human Rights Protection In Indonesia At The Human Rights Council Meeting

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD at the Side Event of the Human Rights Council Session explained that the protection of human rights in Indonesia continues in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The pandemic affects all aspects, including the enforcement of human rights protection. However, the Indonesian government continues to work to ensure that the basic rights of every citizen are protected. This is a constitutional mandate that the government continues to carry out," Mahfud said at the Side Event meeting of the Human Rights Council Session held carried out in cooperation with the Indonesian National Human Rights Commission and the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia in Geneva, Switzerland.

The event which was attended by various international organizations raised the theme Fulfillment of Human Rights in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Facing challenging conditions such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Mahfud, the Indonesian government believes in adaptive policies and a collaborative approach.

Mahfud said there were several important approaches during the pandemic in order to protect human rights, among others, the Indonesian government ensured collaborative work in maintaining the right to health and access to health facilities.

"In this case, the government has succeeded in providing free access to the COVID-19 vaccine for all citizens," Mahfud said in a press release.

The government collaborated with private institutions, health facilities, and community organizations to distribute more than 440 million vaccines to 574 cities and districts in 34 provinces. As a result, Indonesia managed to achieve even exceed the vaccination rate made by the WHO, more than 70 percent of the population.

With regard to human rights, the Government has struck a balance between respecting freedom and protecting rights during a pandemic.

"To protect people's right to live, the Government adjusts freedom of movement and freedom of assembly. Not to violate freedom, but to protect people's lives, in accordance with the implementation of human rights and in line with COVID-19 policies," said the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court.

The government also collaborates in handling cases of human rights violations during the pandemic. Indonesian human rights law provides several mechanisms, including that the government can collaborate with stakeholders in handling cases.

"The Indonesian government has also remained committed throughout the pandemic in upholding human rights. One proof of its commitment is that the government has issued the fifth generation of the National Action Plan on Human Rights in 2021-2025," he said.

The chairman of the Indonesian National Human Rights Commission, Ahmad Taufan Damanik, who was also present at the forum, said that the management of COVID-19 in Indonesia is quite good compared to other countries.

This, according to him, is because the aspect of transparency in governance is significant as well as partnerships with civil society and Komnas HAM.

One of the indicators is a number of basic policies that have followed the recommendations of Komnas HAM, such as the protection of health workers, a humanist approach, and the protection of vulnerable groups such as people in detention centers or prisoners.

"This governance experience is also reflected in the birth of health norms and regulation standards, which we hope will become the cornerstone of national health policies," said Taufan.