INTERVENTION OF THE DELEGATION OF INDONESIA ON INTERACTIVE DIALOGUES WITH INDEPENDENT EXPERT ON THE ENJOYMENT OF ALL HUMAN RIGHTS BY OLDER PERSONS AND THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON CONTEMPORARY FORMS OF SLAVERY AT THE 27TH SESSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
GENEVA, 8 SEPTEMBER 2014
Mr. President,
First of all, my delegation extends sincere appreciation to the Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of All Human Rights by Older Persons and the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery for their valuable presentations.
My delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the OIC. My delegation also congratulates the Independent Expert on Older Persons and the Special Rapporteur on Slavery for their recent appointment in June 2014 and thanks them for their first report to the Council which provides us with information on the areas of work and priorities during their tenure as mandate holders. In addition, my delegation conveys our sincere gratitude to the then Special Rapporteur Gulnara Shahinian for her important work in combating slavery and slavery-like practices during her two terms as mandate holder.
Mr. President,
Indonesia supports the areas of work proposed by the Independent Experts on Older Persons during her tenure which comprehensively cover the enjoyment of all human rights of older persons. Nevertheless, we realize that there is implementation-gap of international policies, standards and mechanisms aimed at protecting and promoting the rights of older persons in many areas. In this regard, Indonesia suggests the Independent Expert to streamline her priority into some specific and thematic rights of older persons. Indonesia also suggests the Independent Expert to start her work by conducting study on the challenges faced by states in promoting and protecting the rights of older persons. Indonesia believes that there are different challenges addressed by different policies implemented by countries facing those challenges. Indonesia believes we can draw a lesson from these different policies.
The Government of Indonesia attaches special attention to the rights of older persons as evidenced by the enactment of Law No. 4 of 1965 on the Livelihood Assistance to Older Persons, Law No. 13 of 1998 on the Welfare of Older Persons and Government Regulation No. 43 of 2004 on the Implementation of Measures to Improve the Welfare of Older Persons. These legislations stipulate that the elderly shall be provided with social benefits, such as mental, spiritual and religious services; health services; employment services; education and training services; access to public facilities and infrastructures; access to legal aid and services; social protection; and social assistance. In addition, in 2004, the Government of Indonesia established the National Commission on Elderly through Presidential Decree No. 52 of 2004. The increasing number of older persons in the last decade as a result of national economic development is a challenge facing Indonesia.
The government of Indonesia is committed to enhance its efforts to promote and protect the rights of older persons, through improving national legislation, increasing public awareness, providing sufficient budget for services and empowerment among others.
Mr. President,
Indonesia supports the priorities put forward by the Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery especially on child labour and the elimination of domestic servitude, including against low-skills migrant workers. We must persist in our efforts of addressing the root causes of child labour and domestic servitude. In this connection, Indonesia is committed to continue its efforts to provide legal protection measures for domestic workers through the draft bill for the protection of domestic workers which is currently discussed in the parliament. Along this line, Indonesia is also considering to ratify ILO Convention 189 on Decent Work for Domestic Workers. At this juncture, Indonesia also calls for the universal ratification of International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families.
On Child Labour, having ratified ILO Convention No. 182 on Worst Forms of Child Labour and Convention on the Rights of the Child and its 2 Optional Protocols, Indonesia has created legal, institutional and coordinating frameworks at the national level. Indonesia also implements the National Action Plan on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour (2013-2022) and National Action Plan on the Prevention and Eradication of Trafficking in Person and Sexual Exploitation against Children (2009-2014).
Finally, my delegation also underlines the Special Rapporteur’s priority on ensuring standardized disaggregated data collection. With regard to this priority, my delegation would like to seek further clarification on the Special Rapporteur’s strategy to establish standard disaggregated data and methods to conduct an effective and efficient data collection.
I thank you.
