Universal Periodic Review 27: Indonesia
This UK statement on Indonesia was delivered at the adoption of the reports during the 27th Session of the Universal Periodic Review on 21 September 2017.
The Universal Periodic Review takes place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The UK thanks Indonesia for its continued commitment to the Universal Periodic Review process.
We welcome Indonesia’s acceptance of our recommendation to adopt an open, merit-based selection process when selecting national candidates for UN treaty body elections, and note the constructive role Indonesia has played in both the UN and ASEAN in protecting human rights.
We are pleased that Indonesia has supported recommendations to uphold its human rights obligations in Papua, including the right to freedom of assembly and freedom of the press. We hope that Indonesia will extend the same rights and protections to all citizens; irrespective of their location, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation.
The UK is committed to working with partners to tackle modern slavery. We congratulate Indonesia on its efforts to eradicate these abhorrent crimes, including the development of its National Anti-Trafficking Task Force.
We hope Indonesia will continue to prioritise the protection of its most vulnerable workers, including through enforcing existing labour regulations on minimum working standards. This is important if all Indonesians are to benefit from Indonesia’s strong economic growth.
We regret that recommendations from the UK and a substantial number of other countries regarding a moratorium on the use of the death penalty have not been supported. There is no evidence that the death penalty is a more effective deterrent than alternative forms of punishment.