Indonesia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir highlighted ASEAN unity as the basic capital for advancing human rights in the region at the opening of the 6th ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue in Jakarta on Tuesday.
“Together with ASEAN, we have formed a close-knit family to fight for common interests on the global stage,” he said, according to a written statement issued by the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Indonesia.
He called for stronger commitment to upholding human rights in all ASEAN countries.
He also highlighted future challenges for ASEAN, such as increasing global injustice, a decline in upholding human rights, selective application of international laws, as well as violence in Gaza, Palestine, and its surrounding areas.
Therefore, Indonesia urged ASEAN to keep standing tall as a guardian of peace and human dignity, both within and outside the region.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Human Rights Mugiyanto Sipin reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to using an inclusive approach and involving various stakeholders in mainstreaming the human rights perspective.
He also acknowledged the significant contribution of national human rights institutions, civil society organizations, and academics in the advancement and protection of human rights in Indonesia.
Through the Asta Cita mission promoted by President Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia is committed to strengthening democracy and human rights, which are also the main pillars of the current government, Mugiyanto affirmed.
“Our vision is to create a region where everyone can live in freedom, where voices are heard, and every individual is empowered to achieve their full potential,” he said.
The 6th ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue received special attention as it was held after the adoption of the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue in 2023.
The declaration, which was agreed upon during Indonesia’s chairmanship of the ASEAN, marked an important step toward the institutionalization and sustainability of human rights dialogue in ASEAN.
Indonesia’s representative at the AICHR, Yuyun Wahyuningrum, emphasized that the human rights dialogue needs to be maintained continuously as a step forward in ensuring accountability and transparency in efforts to advance human rights in the region.
“The organization of the ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue is very important to create a regional environment that better respects human rights,” she said.
Held since 2013, the ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue is an initiative of Indonesia. It is designed as a forum for ASEAN countries to discuss human rights in the region openly and in a balanced manner.
The dialogue involves not just representatives of the government, but also national human rights commissions across ASEAN countries, as well as academics and civil society organizations from the Southeast Asian region.
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Translator: Yashinta Difa
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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