The Ministry of Human Rights is expanding provisions for protecting vulnerable groups in the revised Human Rights Law by strengthening anti-discrimination principles, affirmative action, and recognizing the rights of indigenous peoples.
Ministry of Human Rights Expert Siti Aminah stated that the issue of vulnerable groups is one of the main topics in the revision of the Human Rights Law to ensure more inclusive human rights protection for women, children, people with disabilities, and indigenous communities.
"The issue of vulnerable groups is a topic of discussion and is included in the Human Rights Bill," said Siti Aminah during a public discussion on the revision of Human Rights Law Number 39 of 1999.
According to him, one of the main changes in the revision is the expansion of the definition of discrimination which previously only covered certain categories.
In the revised draft, the basis for discrimination is expanded to include religion, belief, tribe, race, skin color, ethnicity, language, origin, social and economic class, gender, gender identity, age, political beliefs, disability, marital status, and health conditions.
Siti said the expanded definition aims to provide stronger protection for community groups that have previously been vulnerable to restrictions and unequal treatment.
"Well, this broadening of the definition of discrimination ensures that vulnerable groups who experience differences, restrictions, and exclusions based on these grounds are guaranteed not to experience discrimination," he said.
In addition to the anti-discrimination principle, the revised Human Rights Law also adopts a temporary special action or affirmative action approach for vulnerable groups.
He explained that the regulation includes protecting the rights of women, children, people with disabilities, and indigenous peoples with an approach tailored to the needs of each group.
"For women, what we emphasize is the affirmative context of women's representation in all decision-making," he said.
The revised Human Rights Law also emphasizes protection of bodily autonomy, sexual and reproductive health, the best interests of children, and accessibility and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities.
Meanwhile, for indigenous communities, the Ministry of Human Rights includes recognition of customary rights and the obligation to obtain Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) before investment or development is carried out in customary areas.
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