A survey by the Setara Institute has revealed that Indonesia’s human rights index declined in 2013 as the public continues to be dissatisfied with the government’s handling of the human rights issues.
“This year’s trend depicted the public’s accumulated disappointment of the state, in particular President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s administration which, until its term nearly ends, has not yet been able to show its seriousness in protecting and fulfilling human rights,” said Setara researcher Ismail Hasani in Jakarta on Monday as quoted by Antara news agency.
The Setara Institute said in its report that the index stood at 2.25 in 2013, down from 2.82 in 2012, 2.30 in 2011 and 2.53 in 2010. The institute’s human rights index score ranges from zero to seven.
Ismail said Yudhoyono’s leadership failed to make use of the momentum of economic and political stability over the past 10 years to resolve past human rights violations.
“The survey reveals 52.4 percent of respondents said SBY had a low commitment to human rights and 38.2 percent of respondents said SBY showed no commitment to the matter,” said Ismail.
Despite public disappointment, he added, the Setara Institute acknowledged that since the beginning of reform era, Indonesia had achieved progress in the field of human rights.
In the survey, 40.6 percent of respondents noted the ratification of human rights covenants and conventions as one of several progressive actions achieved.
“As many as 29.7 percent of respondents noted the adoption of human rights norms in the Constitution as other achievement while 12.5 percent respondents praised the establishment of human rights enforcement mechanisms,” Ismail said.
The survey which took place from Nov. 28 to Dec.5 involved 200 respondents, comprising human rights activists, academicians and public leaders, from 20 provinces.