To Protect the Defenders Doing the Most Possible, Continuing to Do What Has to Be Done

Abstract

Allow me to start my lecture by highlighting several important issues from the visit of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, Ms. Hina Jilani, during her visit to Indonesia on June 5-12, 2007. After her visit, in a press release, Ms. Hina Jilani stated that the situation in Indonesia has shown the prospect for the promotion of human rights, which in her opinion has vastly developed lately. Ms. Hina Jilani based her opinion on several positive steps taken to strengthen the legal and institutional framework for the promotion of human rights. In regards to the legal framework, Ms. Hina Jilani specifically mentioned the Constitutional amendments in 2000 which contain stipulations that guarantee the fulfillment of human rights and basic freedoms, the passing of Law No. 39, 1999 on Human Rights and the Law on Witness and Victim Protection namely Law No. 13, 2006. Here I would like to add the ratification of main international human rights instruments, namely the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Upon institutional development, Ms. Jilani put forth the establishment of The Commission of Human Rights with a stronger legal basis, namely the Law No. 39, 1999, the establishment of the Commission Anti Violence Against Women , as well as the establishment of Human Rights Court, which was established based on Law No. 26 year 2000 on Human Rights Court as well as the establishment of the Constitutional Court.