Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Human Rights, Natalius Pigai, stated on Wednesday that his top priority during his first 100 days in office would be strengthening the ministry's structure.
"In the first two to three months, I will focus on nomenclature, structural consolidation, formation, and revitalization. The second priority is system organization," he said.
He added that he would then address personnel placement, acknowledging the challenges involved.
"Designing a structure and system is easy, but hiring people is difficult because we need to recruit at least 200 staff," Pigai pointed out.
He also emphasized the need for better facilities and infrastructure, given that the Ministry of Human Rights is an extension of the previous Ministry of Law and Human Rights.
"Providing facilities depends on the budget. If our budget is sufficient, we will be able to offer adequate facilities," he explained.
The former commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) also expressed his commitment to strengthening the ministry's budget during his first 100 days. "Next is ensuring budget strength," Pigai emphasized.
On Monday, he discussed the budget allocation for his ministry. "The president has established the Ministry of Human Rights because of a significant vision. Therefore, the transition team has adjusted the budget," he remarked.
Human rights development efforts include drafting regulations, protecting citizens, and ensuring the fulfillment of people's rights, he added.
It was previously announced that the ministry's budget ceiling for 2024 is Rp64.855 billion (around US$4.1 million).