1. The 4th Indonesia-Canada Bilateral Dialogue on Human Rights was held on 27-28 February 2006, hosted by the Government of Indonesia in Bali, Indonesia. The Dialogue was co-chaired by. Mr. Eddy S. Hariyadhi, Director General for America and Europe, Department of Foreign Affairs and Head of Indonesian delegation and Mr. Michael Small, Director General for Human Security and Human Rights Bureau, Foreign Affairs Canada and Head of The Canadian Delegation.
2. The Indonesian delegation included representative from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Office of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Law, and Security Affairs, Department of Law and Human Rights, Attorney General Office, Indonesian National Police and State Secretariat, as well as two civil society representatives from Padjajaran University and the Police Research and Advocacy (ELSAM).
3. The Canadian Delegation included representatives from Foreign Affairs Canada, the Canadian Embassy in Indonesia, Justice Canada, Canadian International Development Agency, Ottawa Police Service and Civil Society representation from the International Center for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy.
4. Both Delegation exchange views on human rights situations in both Canada and Indonesia. The Indonesian delegation highlighted its developments since the 3rd Bilateral Dialogue, in particular, peace, and development in Aceh, the implementation of the second phase of the National Plan of Action for Human Rights, and the ratification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). Continued challenges raised spanned democratic development, tsunami-related recovery, security and pandemic issues such as Avian flu. It expressed Indonesia’s strong support for the establishment of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The Head of the Indonesian delegation closed with a recognition that there is still much to be done in the promotion and protection of human rights.
5. The Canadian delegation highlighted the recently implemented National Action Plan Against Racism, the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Optional Protocol to the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights on the Death Penalty, as well as recent activities with UN treaty bodies. In Parallel, it was also acknowledged that racism, poverty and homelessness and the rights of Aboriginal peoples are areas in which challenges are still faced. The Head of the Canadian delegation congratulated Indonesia on a number of fronts, including the peace agreement in Aceh, the launching of Indonesia’s second five-year National Action Plan for Human Rights and the recent ratification of the ICCPR and ICESCR, which demonstrated Indonesia’s commitment to improving the human rights situation.
6. Both sides extensively discussed various issues I a transparent, honest and amicable atmosphere. Discussions covered Indonesia’s 2nd National Plan of Action for Human Rights (RAN HAM) 2004-2009, training of trainers on human rights, reconciliation and peace-building processes, perspective on the implementation of international human rights conventions, community policing in Canada and Indonesia and strengthening the prosecutorial function in both countries.
7. At the conclusions of the meeting, the Indonesian and Canadian delegation discussed areas of possible future cooperation and collaboration that have arisen from the Dialogue which were identified as shared priorities under the framework of the implementation of RAN HAM. Areas for potential cooperation and collaboration, include:
- Training on the implementation of international human rights conventions, including reporting.
- Increasing the capacity of the Indonesian National Police, including: training on human rights, community policing, combating terrorism and transnational crimes.
- Training on human rights for prosecutors.
- Supporting civil society organization and university study centers on human rights, peace and democracy in support of human rights.
8. His Excellency, Randolph Mank, Canada’s Ambassador to Indonesia will be conducting a meeting in Jakarta with the members of the Indonesian delegation as a follow up to the Bilateral Dialogue in the second quarter of 2006. This meeting will provide the opportunity to further discuss next steps regarding the named areas of interest for future cooperation and collaboration.
9. The 5th bilateral Dialogue on human rights will be held in Canada in 2007.
