Tony Hotland, Jakarta – A review on Indonesia by the Human Rights Council has concluded in plaudits, with recommendations to eliminate impunity, legally define torture and ratify more rights-related UN conventions.

The UN body commenced last week in Geneva the first-ever Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of all UN members in a bid to appraise and produce input for countries in improving their human rights conditions.

The Indonesian delegation was led by Rezlan Ishar Jenie, director general of multilateral affairs at the Foreign Ministry, and Harkristuti Harkrisnowo, director general of human rights at the Justice and Human Rights Ministry.

"After we delivered our report on April 9, delegations praised us because our report included both the progress and the challenges we face in protecting human rights," Rezlan said Tuesday of the 20-page report.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the seventh bilateral dialogue on human rights between Indonesia and Norway.

The report highlighted measures to overhaul rights conditions such as the ratification of rights conventions, the ending of military activities in politics and the freedom of speech.

"Some of the recommendations were for us to define torture in our Criminal Code, to continue ratifying rights-related treaties, to fight impunity and to continue holding bilateral dialogues on human rights issues," he added.

Human rights groups here have said impunity, particularly for former state officials and military generals associated with past graft and rights abuse cases, has persevered in Indonesia.

Rezlan also said Indonesia's vast ethnic, cultural and religious diversity was a challenge in promoting and protecting human rights, but "we are fully aware of this and have taken measures to address it".

Some hot points raised by the delegations were Indonesia's policy on the death penalty and protection of minority groups, such as the Ahmadiyah Islamic sect, said Harkristuti. Indonesia still uses the death penalty.

An extensive revision of the existing Criminal Code, however, stipulates the death penalty is to be applied only in extreme high-profile cases, she said.

The council's statement on Indonesia, said Rezlan, had been adopted last Friday and he was expecting the final text later this week.

Norway hoped the human rights dialogue it had had with Indonesia since 2002 would enhance bilateral relations and mutual understanding, Norway's State Secretary Elisabeth Walaas said.

She also sought Indonesia's support for Norway's bid to be elected to the Human Rights Council for the period 2009-2012. The election will take place in New York in May next year. Indonesia is serving as a council member from 2006 to 2010.