The Ministry of Human Rights (HAM) stated that the revised Human Rights Law expands the definition of discrimination to strengthen public protection in accessing employment, public services, and fulfilling basic rights.
Human Rights Ministry Expert Staff Siti Aminah in a talk show on the public trial of the Revision of Law Number 39 of 1999 concerning Human Rights in Jakarta, Monday, said that the expansion of the definition of discrimination was carried out by adding a number of grounds for discrimination that had not been regulated in detail in the applicable Human Rights Law.
According to him, discrimination in the revised Human Rights Law is defined as any difference, limitation, or exception, whether direct or indirect, that has an impact on hindering the fulfillment of a person's rights.
Siti explained that the expansion of the discrimination elements was formulated based on input from civil society groups, women's organizations, and institutions working in the health sector.
He gave the example of discrimination based on marital status that women often experience in the job recruitment process and in access to economic rights.
"For example, restrictions apply to married women; they must obtain permission from their spouse. Or, when seeking employment, employers will conduct selection processes based on marital status," he said.
