Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through indigenous group protection in Indonesia

Abstract

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals SDGs with its universal, integration, and inclusivity principles, is a commitment to promote sustainable development in accordance with human rights and equality to encourage social, economic, and environmental development and ensuring that “no-one left behind”. SDGs also promotes six pivotal elements: planet, people, dignity, prosperity, justice, and partnership. This research examines that since Indonesia has committed to reach and implement SDGs into the National Medium-Term Development Plan, the number of environmental and human rights issues has increased. In particular, the issues of the arrest of indigenous groups that try to protect their lands from land clearing for palm oil companies or infrastructure development that build their business by destroying the natures or homes of the indigenous groups. The issues are closely related to Goal 5, 10, 11, and 13-16. This shows the inconsistency of the Indonesian government in implementing the SDGs. Thus, this paper argues that to reach the goals, the Indonesian government has to acknowledge indigenous groups that play pivotal roles in preserving the environment, through local regulation