“I hope that human rights issues would become a public discourse because when they do become a public discourse, political interests will also be eyed. Politics will definitely relate to how this issue becomes a public discourse so as to encourage the resolution of human rights issues by the state," a member of Commission III of the House of Representatives, Taufik Basari, stated during a webinar as seen here on Thursday.
Basari observed and deemed that human rights issues had yet to become an interesting discourse among members of the public or society.
He opined that the public had yet not fully encouraged the state to ensure that human rights comprising economic, social, cultural, land, or territorial rights of each Indonesian citizen could be fulfilled.
Basari admitted that it was no different in the governmental scope.
Related news: Public awareness of human rights improving: Komnas HAM
He observed that human rights issues and also the protection of human rights activists had not become a top priority in the government's policies.
"Currently, what I observe is that the priority issues are the COVID-19 pandemic and development. I do not see human rights as a top priority in the government's policy," he stated.
In fact, human rights issues were important aspects to consider in implementing COVID-19-related priority policies, he affirmed.
Addressing human rights issues is one of the basis for achieving justice in various activities conducted as efforts to address the spread of the coronavirus disease and its related developments.
Hence, he stressed the importance of the public's contribution in making human rights issues a public discourse, which would in turn compel the government to consider it as a priority issue that should be resolved by the state.
Related news: Disabilities commission proof of govt's commitment to human rights
Translator: Tri Meilani A, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
