BRUSSELS, Nov 19 (KUNA) — At the recently held fourth session of the EU-Indonesia Human Rights Dialogue in Brussels, both sides agreed to strengthen effort towards cooperating more closely in international institutions dealing with human rights, said an EU statement here Tuesday.
The Dialogue discussed the issue of non-discrimination, especially with regard to freedom of religion and belief and the protection of minority groups, an area where both the EU and Indonesia face considerable challenges, it noted.
Both sides agreed on the importance of offering adequate legal protection for minorities and bringing perpetrators of violence to justice.
The EU welcomed the presence of a vibrant media and civil society in Indonesia and its importance for a free and democratic society. Both side agreed on the need to ensure and protect freedom of expression and association.
Both sides agreed to strengthen partnership and cooperation on various human rights issues including business and human rights, migration and human rights as well as human rights and discussion on the death penalty, it added.
The Delegation from Indonesia was led by Muhammad Anshor, Director for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while the Delegation of the European Union was led by Anette Mandler, Head of the Human Rights Division in the EUs foreign service called the European External Action Service.