Submission to the 27th session of the UPR

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is a human rights organisation specialising in freedom of religion or belief. CSW monitors the human rights situation in Indonesia and undertakes fact-finding assignments to the country, as well as raising awareness of human rights concerns and advocating for the full protection of human rights in Indonesia. This submission seeks to draw attention to particular concerns over the right to freedom of religion or belief in Indonesia.

This submission will first assess Indonesia’s international legal obligations and the recommendations from the previous Universal Periodic Review (UPR). It will then outline concerns regarding legislation restricting freedom of religion or belief in Indonesia and detail some examples of violations of freedom of religion or belief in Indonesia.

INTERNATIONAL LEGAL OBLIGATIONS

Indonesia has signed and ratified many international human rights treaties, notably the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination; the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women; the Convention on the Rights of the Child; the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

During the country’s previous UPR cycle, Indonesia accepted at least 21 recommendations relevant to freedom of religion or belief. Of these recommendations, CSW welcomes the efforts of the current government of Indonesia to fight all forms of discrimination and to respect the rights of religious minorities. However, CSW notes with concern that recommendations to review existing laws and policies to ensure their compatibility with international protections for freedom of religion or belief, and to bring them in line with Indonesia’s own constitution, do not appear to have been implemented fully. Recommendations urging the authorities to ensure that all ministerial decrees regulating religious life, as well as all local religiously founded bylaws, are in conformity with international human rights law do not appear to have been implemented either.

To read the submission in full, you can download the pdf here.