Norwegian recommendations in UPR on Indonesia 23 May
Norway warmly welcomes foreign minister Dr. Marty Natalegawa and his delegation to Geneva.
The Norwegian Government appreciates the excellent co-operation we have with Indonesia, including in the field of Human Rights.
We recognize Indonesia’s commitment to human rights, inter alia it’s efforts in training the judiciary and the defence forces in Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, as well as its efforts to reform its juvenile justice system.
Norway is however concerned by reports of harassment and discrimination of religious minorities and non-believers. We recommend that Indonesia investigates and prosecutes all such cases. We further recommend that all ministerial decrees regulating religious life, as well as all local religiously founded bylaws, are in conformity with international human rights law. We also recommend that Indonesia extends an invitation to the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief.
Human Rights Defenders are generally able to operate freely, but some challenges remain, especially for human rights defenders in Papua and West-Papua. Norway recommends Indonesia to ensure a safe and enabling environment for all human rights defenders
Norway also recommends Indonesia to ensure the rights of indigenous peoples and local forest dependent peoples in law and practice, in particular regarding their rights to traditional lands, territories and resources, and recommends Indonesia to consider ratifying ILO Convention No. 169.
Lastly, Norway recommends Indonesia to repeal the Regulation of the Minister of Health No 1636 on Female Genital Mutilation and to officially prohibit the increasing practice of female circumcision and other traditional practices inflicting sufferings on women and girls.
Norway’s Advance Questions for Indonesia
- What steps will Indonesia take to protect religious minorities from harassment, and ensure freedom of belief and conscience for all?
- What steps will Indonesia take to ensure that all women and girls are granted equal access to reproductive health services?
- Indonesia introduced a ban on genital mutilation in 2006. However, the Indonesian Ministry of Health introduced hygiene regulations in 2011, which may undermine the ban. How will the Indonesian government ensure that the 2006 ban on genital mutilation is upheld?