Human Rights still being Discussed

Kompas/Heru Sri Kumoro

Human rights activists and activists during the Kamisan action in front of the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Thursday (24/10/2019). The 607th silent action consistently demands the government to resolve cases of human rights violations.

Every Dec. 10, citizens of the world celebrate Human Rights Day. World Human Rights Day 2020 carries the theme "Recover Better, Stand Up for Human Rights".

The theme, which means recovering fully and fostering more resilient and just societies, is inseparable from the Covid-19 pandemic, which has attacked the lives of people in 220 countries/regions in the world. It is undeniable that the pandemic has resulted in the human rights of some to be neglected. If the spread of the new coronavirus can be curbed, life is restored, the state or whoever must respect the human rights of its citizens, including resolving cases of human rights violations.

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The logo for World Human Rights Day 2020 is in the form of a blue circle, in the shape of a hand with five fingers, which symbolizes respect, protection, advancement, upholding and fulfillment of human rights. Indonesia as a global citizen is also committed to respecting, protecting, advancing, upholding and fulfilling the human rights of its citizens, among others, by including human rights arrangements in the 1945 Constitution and Law Number 39/1999.

However, it must be acknowledged that there are still many human rights problems, especially those related to the protection and enforcement of human rights in this country. Not all human rights violations have been resolved. On the other hand, violations still occur. In fact, almost all leaders of this country, including President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in his first and second terms, has always promised to respect, advance, fulfill, uphold and protect the human rights of their citizens.

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KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Residents cross the mural criticizing the principle of justice in Segara Makmur, Tarumajaya, Bekasi Regency, Wednesday (30/9/2020). Murals become a medium for artists and human rights activists to voice criticism in public spaces.

The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) reported that as of the end of November 2020 there were still 12 cases of gross human rights violations in Indonesia that had not been resolved. These cases occurred between 1965 and 2014. Human Rights Watch in its 2020 report also said that Indonesia was facing serious threats in human rights enforcement in 2019.

The Kompas Research and Development poll at the end of November also recorded the public\'s skeptical stance regarding the current enforcement of human rights. More than half of respondents (63.3 percent) considered that the protection of human rights was stagnant. Some of the respondent groups also thought that the protection of human rights in Indonesia was even worse (Kompas, 14/12/2020).

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It must be admitted, human rights are not an issue that attracts the attention of all Indonesian people. This issue is mostly followed by people with a middle and upper education, who tend to be critical and skeptical of human rights development. The statement of President Jokowi, or the previous presidents, to respect and uphold human rights has not been fully proven. It seems as if human rights are only being discussed.

The government tries to respect the human rights of the citizens, among others, by establishing the National Human Rights Commission and Human Rights Court, in addition to amending the Constitution and making laws. Respect for human rights is not enough with making rules or institutions, let alone only rhetoric. Human rights must be manifested in justice, which the people can really feel.