Top UN Human Rights Official Set to Visit Jakarta on Monday
Jakarta. The United Nations high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, will visit Indonesia on Monday (05/02) to meet with top officials and representatives of the country's national human rights institutions.
Hussein is scheduled to meet with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and representatives of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) and the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) during his three-day visit.
He will also meet civil society representatives, religious leaders and women's rights groups.
Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta on Friday (02/02), Sandrayati Moniaga, Komnas HAM vice chairwoman for external affairs, said Hussein's visit illustrates Indonesia's strategic role in promoting and upholding human rights.
"Although on the other hand, it could also be an indication of crucial problems concerning human rights in Indonesia," she added.
Komnas HAM said it will discuss past human right abuses, human rights in Papua, intolerance and discrimination against minorities, and management of agrarian conflicts during its meeting with Hussein.
Sandra said the commission has been working with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Bangkok on training, and hopes to strengthen the ongoing cooperation in the future.
Komnas HAM said it hopes for a stronger commitment by the top UN human rights official to further support the Indonesian government on human rights issues.
"It's important that the high commissioner can continue supporting the government's efforts to improve human rights in Indonesia. We are hoping for such a commitment [from Hussein]," Sandra said.
Hussein will also speak at a regional human rights conference at the offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta on Monday.
Following his Jakarta visit, Hussein will also travel to Papua New Guinea and Fiji.
Tags: Keywords: