Civil Society Alternative Report - Still Far from Adequately Protected: The Enjoyment of Civil and Political Rights in Indonesia - In Relation to the Government of Indonesia’s (GOI) Report to the UN Human Rights Committee

Sep 10, 2026

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Civil society alternative report addressing Indonesia’s implementation of the ICCPR in relation to the UN Human Rights Committee’s 140th session. The report argues that nearly two decades after ratification, protection, respect, and fulfillment of civil and political rights remain far below expectations due to laws and regulations that contradict the ICCPR’s aims, including those governing expression, association and assembly, religion and belief, and the press. It also highlights ongoing excessive violence, restrictive criminal-law approaches, and limited follow-up, evaluation, and accountability for rights violations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages21

Reading Time53 min

AccessFree to download

Executive Summary

Introduction

General Situation of Civic Space in Indonesia

Right to Freedom of Expression and Opinion

Right to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly

Right to Freedom of Association

Right to Public Participation

CIVIL SOCIETY ALTERNATIVE REPORT “Still Far from Adequately Protected: The Enjoyment of Civil and Political Rights in Indonesia” IN RELATION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDONESIA’S (GOI) REPORT TO THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE 140TH SESSION HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, MARCH 4 – MARCH 28, 2024 Presented by: Freedom of Association Coalition (KKB) YAPPIKA, PSHK, IMPARSIAL, LBH JAKARTA, ELSAM, SEPAHAM FEBRUARY 2024 Executive Summary In 2025, Indonesia will have been a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) for 20 years since its ratification in 2005. Indonesia's participation in the international agreement as one of the core international human rights instruments, was an incredibly noteworthy progress after more than three decades under Soeharto's authoritarian New Order. As an instrument serving as a reference and standard for countries in fulfilling civil and political rights, there is great expectation that this participation will have a significant impact on the better enjoyment of rights and freedoms in the ICCPR. Unfortunately , that was not the case. Nearly two decades into Indonesia's participation in the ICCPR, problems related to respecting, protecting, fulfilling , and advancing rights and freedoms in this covenant are still far from expectations and even worse. Violations of rights and freedoms did not only happen at the implementation level of statutory regulations but, more fundamentally, were caused by various provisions in regulations substantially contradictory and/or not in harmony with the ICCPR. Some regulations from the older, undemocratic government are kept and not revoked. Furthermore, many of the laws and regulations issued were contrary to the ICCPR’s goals. This alternative report provides many examples of violations in the enjoyment of civil and political rights caused by laws and regulations with flawed provisions such as regulations on freedom of expression, freedom of association and assembly, freedom of religion and belief, and freedom of the press. Legislative laws , which, according to Article 2 paragraph (2) of the ICCPR, must be created to have an effect on the various rights and freedoms contained in the ICCPR , actually have the opposite effect. At the implementation level, this report shows that government officials are still far from demonstrating behaviour that is aware of human rights even though guarantees of civil rights and freedoms are included in statutory regulations and even in the 1945 Constitution. This report shows that excessive violence is still used resulting in physical and mental casualties and even loss of life. In many cases, the Government of Indonesia (GoI) also often uses a criminal law approach to reduce and even eliminate public participation in the policy-making process. It is even more concerning that these violations are often not followed up with adequate evaluation and correction, or without even being followed up with legal accountability for the officers or officials who commit the violations. This alternative report was prepared by different elements of civil society in response to the report submitted by the GoI to the UN Human Rights Committee. This report is expected to provide a more comprehensive illustration of the human rights situation in Indonesia, especially for civil and political rights. In addition to providing an alternative view, this report also provides suggestions and recommendations for the UN Human Rights Committee in response to the report submitted by the GoI, as well as serves as recommendation materials for better protection of the rights and freedoms guaranteed in the ICCPR. Introduction 1. This alternative report is a response to the GoI’s Report to the UN Human Rights Committee (CCPR/C/IDN/2) . 2. The report was prepared by the Freedom of Association Coalition (KKB) consisting of: YAPPIKA (The People Participation, Initiative and Partnership Strengt

FAQs

What is the purpose of this alternative report?

The report responds to the Government of Indonesia’s report to the UN Human Rights Committee and aims to provide a more comprehensive illustration of the human rights situation in Indonesia, particularly civil and political rights, with suggestions for the Committee.

Why does the report say ICCPR-related problems persist in Indonesia?

It argues that violations stem not only from implementation failures but also from provisions in regulations that are substantially contradictory to the ICCPR, including laws affecting expression, association and assembly, religion and belief, and the press.

What problems does the report describe at the implementation level?

It states that government officials often do not demonstrate human-rights-aware behavior and that excessive violence continues, sometimes causing physical and mental casualties or loss of life, alongside criminal-law approaches that reduce public participation.

Sep 10, 2026

Upload by Mali