EU and Komnas HAM call on young people to be the next generation of human rights defenders
EU and Komnas HAM call on young people to be the next generation of human rights defenders
In celebration of International Human Rights Defenders Day, the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Indonesia and the National Commission on Human Rights of Indonesia (Komnas HAM) brought together a panel of writers, musicians and young human rights advocates in a talk show titled 'Anyone Can Be a Human Rights Defender'. The talk show highlighted art as a powerful tool for human rights advocacy and invited young people to actively take part as the next generation of human rights defenders. The event premiered on the Narasi TV YouTube channel, a national online media platform.
Around 150 students participated in the talk show which was held at Universitas Multimedia Nusantara. Leila Chudori, a writer, and Ananda Badudu, a musician, shared their creative journey in crafting songs and stories, highlighting human experiences and principles to uphold when writing about human rights violations. Fatwa Hidayah, a young Komnas HAM analyst, provided regulatory context and elaborated on existing protection to support human rights defenders in Indonesia.
Worldwide, human rights defenders are recognised for their contribution to bringing about more equitable and just societies. At the same time, their efforts have often been thwarted due to a lack of legal protection. It is a shared responsibility to promote an enabling environment in which human rights defenders can safely carry out their duties.
"Democracy, freedom of expression and respect for human rights are universal values that hold us together as global citizens," said Stéphane Mechati, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Indonesia. "The EU recognises the role of human rights defenders as a key partner in making human rights a reality. Protecting their work by strengthening the legal instruments to support human rights defenders can lead to more systemic changes. Young people have a crucial role to play, as they are taking the lead in standing up for human rights, using creative means to connect people beyond their differences. This is why we celebrated 2022 as the European Year of Youth. The adoption of our first Youth Action Plan in EU External Action serves as a reminder that we can learn a lot from young people; their empowerment is key to upholding human rights."