Utami, an activist working for the rights of persons with disabilities, won the seat in a secret ballot in New York on Tuesday and became the first Indonesian to be elected as member of CRPD, Indonesia`s Permanent Mission to the UN noted in a statement on Wednesday.
The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities comprises 18 independent experts having high moral character and recognized competence in the field of human rights.
The term of nine of the elected members will expire on December 31, 2018. Thus, nine seats in the Committee had to be filled in through an election.
Utami, who is also a founder of OHANA, a non-governmental organization in the field of rights for persons with disabilities, competed with 30 candidates in the election during the 11th Meeting of States parties to the Convention in New York.
Utami won the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) election along with other candidates from Lithuania, Nigeria, Australia, Switzerland, the Republic of Korea, Ghana, Brazil, and Mexico.
"Congratulations Ibu Risnawati. Wishing success in your work and in carrying (forward) your country`s name," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi tweeted on Wednesday.
Furthermore, Indonesia`s Permanent Representative in New York Triansyah Djani remarked that Risnawati`s election reflected Indonesia`s commitment in upholding human rights, especially for persons with disabilities.
It also means an international recognition to Utami`s portfolio, capability, and experience in working with persons with disabilities, Djani stated.
"The success of Indonesia`s diplomacy in Risnawati candidacy is a second victory for Indonesia`s multilateral diplomacy in the past week after (the country) was elected as a non permanent member of the UNSC for the 2019-2020 term in an election on June 8, 2018," Djani stated.
The UNCRPD is an international treaty established in 2008 that aims to promote, defend, and reinforce the human rights of all persons with disabilities.
It is a body of 18 independent experts that monitors the implementation of CRPD.
Reporter: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Editor: Andi Abdussalam
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