At the fourth Indonesian Civil Society Forum (ICSF), a two-day event that brought together 250 representatives from Indonesian civil society organizations (CSOs), the government of Indonesia, academia, and development partners, participants strived to plan future collaboration for advancing inclusive democracy in Indonesia.
"Cooperation with civil society and community organizations to strengthen democracy in Indonesia is particularly important as we approach the presidential and legislative election in February 2024," Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly said at the 4th ICSF event in Jakarta on Wednesday.
According to Minister Laoly, Indonesia’s democracy is inseparable from the philosophy of Pancasila, which has been the basis for uniting the highly pluralistic nation.
"The implementation of democracy in Indonesia must prioritize unity and be based on consensus for the welfare of the people. Every citizen has a role and social responsibility to maintain unity and community welfare," he said.
On the occasion, USAID Indonesia mission director Jeffery Cohen said that the United States is committed to supporting Indonesia’s efforts to promote accountable, transparent, and inclusive governance.
"Civil society plays an important role in building and maintaining Indonesia’s diverse and tolerant society," Cohen added.
He said that the US, through USAID, is a strong supporter of Indonesian civil society and will help build the institutional capacity and financial viability of CSOs to promote their self-reliance and sustainability.
The 2023 ICSF focused on the topic "Sustaining Civil Society in Indonesia: Civic Space, Capacity, and Sustainability."
The forum provided a platform for the civil society sector and its supporters to better understand each other’s perspectives and discuss the role of civil society in advancing democratic reform in Indonesia.
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Reporter: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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