Description
Indonesia has moved forward after the reformation towards a progressive phase in the respect, protection and fulfillment of human rights. There are at least 14 international covenants on the protection of human rights that have been ratified by the Indonesian government. Four RANHAMs (National Action Plans on Human Rights) have been established to strategize more progressive human rights protection in Indonesia.
However, the post-reform Indonesian government has focused more on strengthening structures through the issuance of regulations and the establishment of human rights protection institutions instead of focusing on enforcement. In fact, human rights defenders are the most vulnerable actors facing various forms of violence including threats, torture, abduction and murder. This condition is even more distressing because attacks and threats against human rights defenders are carried out in a seemingly legal manner through criminalization, which in recent cases shows that most of them occur to environmental activists and journalists.
Measures to protect human rights defenders are urgently needed. Unfortunately, the existing legal framework in Indonesia does not yet clearly accommodate mechanisms to protect human rights defenders or related matters. Through an agreement made between KEMITRAAN and the Royal Netherlands Embassy, a series of actions aimed at strengthening the protection of human rights defenders in the environmental sector in Indonesia are carried out through this project. The strategic focus of the project is to (1) improve policies, (2) improve human rights protection mechanisms and (3) increase the capacity of civil society working in the sector.
Key Achievements
The project has completed a study on various cases of violations against human rights defenders in the environmental sector across Indonesia. The study is relevant for informing basic program and advocacy strategies. The study also supports the formulation of a Human Rights Defenders Knowledge System (HRDKS).
KEMITRAAN has also recruited four civil society organizations to collaborate in advocating for two previously identified policies, namely the Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation (Permen LHK) and the SOP for human rights defenders at Komnas HAM. For advocacy purposes, KEMITRAAN has identified key personnel in relevant institutions who will be involved during program implementation.
Donor
Government of the Netherlands
Project Period
November 2018-November 2021
Implementing Partner
Lembaga Studi dan Advokasi Masyarakat (ELSAM), Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL), Imparsial, Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Pers (LBH Pers)