President Receives visit of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Jakarta (Antaranews Babel) - President Joko Widodo received the honorary visit of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein at the Merdeka Palace here on Tuesday.

During the meeting with Al Hussein, the head of state was accompanied by Minister/State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yasonna H Laoly, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs AM Fachir, Indonesian Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) Ambassador Hasan Kleib, Director General for Multilateral Affairs. Febrian Alphyanto Ruddyard, and Director of Human Rights and Humanities at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dicky Komar. 

Meanwhile, Al Hussein was accompanied by Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for Asia Pacific and Central Asia, Francesco Motta, and Official Spokesperson of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations, Ravina Shamdasani.

Laoly remarked that the meeting discussed Indonesia's role in assisting the handling of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

"Al Hussein has encouraged Indonesia to make various efforts and approaches to address Rohingya issue. The UN High Commissioner believes that Indonesia can be a leader in the settlement of the crisis. Myanmar welcomes Indonesia¿s stance regarding the issue," the minister remarked.

During the meeting, the president revealed some challenges in addressing Rohingya refugees, after the president visited Bangladesh and received the complaints of the refugees.

The president affirmed Indonesia's commitment in upholding human rights enforcement.

Laoly pointed out that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights lauded Indonesia as a role model of a major Muslim country in dealing with issues related to human rights.

He revealed that the meeting also discussed various issues, including revisions to the nation¿s criminal code.

The minister noted that Al Hussein expected the revisions to not criminalize the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) community.

"I conveyed that the government's concept to minorities is still being discussed by the House of Representatives," the minister pointed out.

Fachir explained that the visit was an invitation from Indonesia.

The deputy minister added that regional cooperation on human rights was very important.

"With regard to Indonesia's commitment, the president repeatedly stressed his commitment to promote human rights, because it was a constitutional mandate. He also acknowledged that the state must uphold human rights," he concluded.