The local government's physical closeness and engagement with residents must be utilized by expediting dialogue towards substantive citizen participationJakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy V of the Presidential Staff Office Jaleswari Pramodhawardani affirmed that the 2021 Human Rights Festival is a form of the government's commitment to realizing human rights-friendly districts and cities.
She highlighted the Presidential Staff Office's enthusiasm to become involved in the event, initiated by the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID) and National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).
"In his speech commemorating International Human Rights Day 2020, President Jokowi once again lauded the initiative of the Human Rights Festival, which is actually a district or city festival, as an effort to mainstream the implementation and responsibilities of human rights in the regions," Pramodhawadani stated after signing the cooperation agreement and opening the 2021 Human Rights Festival in Semarang, Central Java on Monday, according to a press release received here.
The 2021 Human Rights Festival will be hosted both online and offline on November 16-19, 2021, in Semarang. The festival, themed "Moving Together, Strengthening Diversity, Inclusion, and Resilience," is expected to be a common force to win the war against COVID-19 and rise and grow to realize Indonesia's 2045 vision.
Pramodhawadani noted that local governments were at the frontline of human rights issues, as they had greater knowledge of the everyday dynamics of village residents.
"The local government's physical closeness and engagement with residents must be utilized by expediting dialogue towards substantive citizen participation," she emphasized.
She assessed that the local government had, so far, made all-out efforts and succeeded in solving the human rights problems in the community. For instance, the completion of permits for the establishment of the Indonesian Baptist Church in Tlogosari, Semarang City, and the establishment of Church (GKJTI) in Jepara District and Church (GKI) Yasmin in Bogor City, West Java.
"I feel it is important to highlight good practices such as these in the hopes of serving as an inspiration to regional heads and all stakeholders," she remarked.
She lauded all stakeholders involved in the preparation and implementation of the 2021 Human Rights Festival.
She expects the agenda to serve as a forum for local governments and human rights stakeholders to support and inspire one another while stressing on the notion that the state still existed in the midst of a pandemic to protect and fulfill the rights of citizens.
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Translator: Rangga Pandu A J, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2021
