Human dignity should get protection from human rights and has to continue to be a common concern, including human dignity in war-ravaged Ukraine.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Human rights should protect human dignity, not sharpen geo-political rivalries, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi said in opening remarks at the 'Regional Conversation on Human Rights (RCHR)' activity held on Dec. 20, 2022.

"Human rights should provide protection for human dignity and must continue to be a common concern, including human rights issues resulting from the war in Ukraine," she said, adding, "we must always prioritize human rights and continue to reject all wrongful treatment of human rights".

In addition, Foreign Minister Retno also conveyed three important things related to human rights issues in the midst of the current difficult situation, which need a joint focus in the region.

The first is strengthening the capacity of national and regional human rights institutions, including through enhancing the AICHR (ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights), the foreign minister said in the hope that in the future, a human rights dialogue platform in the region can be institutionalized.

The second is coping with the most urgent human rights issues, including the rights of women and children, and the third is increasing collaboration within the human rights framework, she noted.

On the occasion, the foreign minister also announced the nomination of Indonesia as a member of the U.N. Human Rights Council for the 2024-2026 period.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, through his recorded message, conveyed the importance of multilateralism and invited all the U.N. member states to strengthen the human rights protection system in a regional and global framework, especially for Indonesia through its ASEAN chairmanship in 2023.

This Regional Conversation on Human Rights (RCHR) activity was initiated by Indonesia in order to celebrate world human rights day, and marked the end of Indonesia's membership in the U.N. Human Rights Council for the 2020-2022 period.

The RCHR was held under the theme 'Upholding Human Rights: Past Legacy and Future Action'.

Reporting by Indonesia Window