On 15 July, the EU and Indonesia held their 10th Human Rights Dialogue in Brussels.

The EU and Indonesia discussed a wide range of human rights issues, including fundamental freedoms; the rights of migrants and refugees; the rights of women and girls, as well as the rights of persons with disabilities. In the light of Indonesia’s successful election to the UN Human Rights Council (2024-2026), they also explored opportunities for cooperation in international human rights fora. A number of global issues of common concern were highlighted, including the situation in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Palestine and Ukraine.

The Human Rights Dialogue took place at a crucial moment in the democratic trajectory of both partners, following Indonesia’s elections of 14 February and the EU’s parliamentary elections of 6-9 June. Ahead of the political transition that will occur in both Jakarta and Brussels, they agreed to reaffirm human rights as the fundamental values that underpin the EU-Indonesia partnership.

Taking stock of the progress made since the last Human Rights Dialogue in 2021, the EU and Indonesia exchanged views on their respective human rights priorities as encapsulated in Indonesia’s National Action Plan for Human Rights (2021-2025) and the EU’s Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy (2020-2027).

The EU and Indonesia discussed the promotion and protection of the rights of women and girls. The EU welcomed Indonesia’s adoption of the Sexual Violence Bill that established a legal framework for the prosecution of sex crimes with a survivor-centred approach.

On the rights of persons with disabilities, the EU and Indonesia exchanged on Indonesia’s leading role in the adoption of the ASEAN Declaration on Disability-Inclusive Development and Partnership and its domestic policies. The EU welcomed Indonesia’s Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities (2021-2025) and the inauguration of the National Human Rights Institute for Persons with Disabilities. Indonesia briefed on its continued efforts to curb the illegal practice of shackling for persons with psychosocial and psychological disabilities.

The rights of migrants and refugees were discussed in the light of Indonesia’s role as co-chair of the Bali Process, against the backdrop of the surge in the arrival of Rohingya refugees, whom Indonesia hosts mainly in Aceh, with the support of EU humanitarian aid (DG ECHO). In response to questions raised by Indonesia, the EU briefed its counterparts on the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, including the human rights safeguards included therein, as well as the EU’s response to the mass displacement of Ukrainian refugees following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The EU and Indonesia discussed the challenges of guaranteeing freedom of expression in line with international human rights law while curbing hate speech, online harassment and incitement to violence as well as misinformation. The EU enquired about the revision of the Indonesian Criminal Code and the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (EIT/ITE Law), and the concerns about these pieces of legislation stifling freedom of speech. At the same time, the EU took good note of the acquittal of two prominent human rights defenders in January 2024, who had been charged with defamation.

As part of the discussion on shrinking of democratic space, both domestically and internationally, the EU referred to the recent review of Indonesia’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which expressed concern about excessive and disproportionate restrictions of the rights of peaceful assembly and association, inconsistent with the principles of legal certainty, necessity and proportionality. In the context of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, the EU stressed the important role of Environmental Human Rights Defenders and their need for protection against harassment and attacks.

Underlining the similarities between the EU’s motto “Unity in Diversity” and the Indonesian “Bhinneka Tunggal Ika”, the EU and Indonesia discussed the importance of guaranteeing freedom of religion or belief. The EU pointed out that measures to protect religions against criticism all too often infringe on the freedom of religion or belief of minorities. Indonesia raised concerns about Islamophobia in Europe.

The EU and Indonesia concurred on the importance of human rights due diligence by businesses. The EU presented its recently adopted measures such as the Deforestation Regulation, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive and the Forced Labour Regulation, and clarified their impact on global supply chains, including in Indonesia, with whom the EU is negotiating a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Indonesia elaborated on its recently adopted National Strategy on Business and Human Rights, which also reflects Indonesia’s ambition to become a member of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) – an aspiration that the EU supports. The EU enquired about reported violations of land rights and the rights of Indigenous Peoples through large-scale business activities. It encouraged Indonesia to accelerate and simplify the recognition of Indigenous Peoples and their land titles. Underlining the need for bold action to address climate change, the EU stressed that the green transition needs to be a just and inclusive transition.

The EU and Indonesia exchanged views about global efforts to abolish the death penalty. The EU reiterated its principled opposition to the death penalty, as cruel and inhuman, a violation of the right to life, and ineffective as a deterrent to crime. The EU welcomed the fact that no executions have taken place in Indonesia in the last seven years and encouraged Indonesia to declare a formal moratorium. It also called on Indonesia to align national legislation with the provisions of the ICCPR, namely to limit the scope of the death penalty to the most serious crimes.

The meeting was co-chaired by the EEAS Head of Division for Southeast Asia, Leila Fernández-Stembridge, and the Director for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Indah Nuria Savitri. A representative of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency briefed the delegations on the work of the agency in areas related to the human rights dialogue. The dialogue was preceded by a lunch hosted by the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Olof Skoog, during which the EU and Indonesia exchanged on multilateral issues and cooperation in human rights fora.