Indonesia, West Papua – The World Council of Churches will host a UN Human Rights Council side event, "Human Rights in Indonesia – One Year into the New Administration," to be held in Geneva on 22 September.
The event will consider the policies of the new Indonesian administration on human rights in Indonesia, with a focus on the human rights situation of the Indigenous peoples in West Papua.
The gathering will bring together Indigenous Papuan human rights defenders and researchers to give an overview of the human rights situation one year into the mandate of the new administration.
Amplifying indigenous voices and exposing an alarming authoritarian drift
The side event, co-organised by the World Council of Churches and Franciscans International, and supported by several international human rights organisations, comes at a critical time in Indonesia's democratic trajectory. Just one year after President Prabowo Subianto took office in October 2024, the country has witnessed alarming signs of democratic backsliding and a deteriorating human rights climate.
Widespread protests over austerity measures and political corruption have been met with heavy-handed crackdowns. At least 3,000 cases of arbitrary arrest during peaceful demonstrations have been reported, with confirmed deaths and injuries raising serious concerns about police brutality and impunity.
In West Papua, the situation is even more dire. Over 100,000 Indigenous Papuans are currently internally displaced, facing severe shortages of healthcare, food, clean water, and access to education. Despite urgent humanitarian needs, the Indonesian government continues to block international aid from reaching affected communities.
The event seeks not only to document these violations but also to place the spotlight on the long-standing structural injustices faced by Indigenous Papuans. The lack of legal recognition under Indonesian law, including the decade-long failure to pass the Indigenous Peoples Bill (RUU Masyarakat Adat), leaves communities vulnerable to eviction, environmental destruction, and systemic marginalisation..
As the Human Rights Council enters its 60th session, the event will serve as a vital platform for holding the Indonesian government accountable and amplifying calls for justice, dignity, and peace in Indonesia and West Papua.