In the last 10 years, the problem concerning Human Rights was developing. One of them was the introduction of Human Rights formulation in the 1945 Constitution that made the Indonesian Constitution one of the most complete constitutions in the world.

That was said by the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, Jimly Asshidiqqie, in the The 7^th National Workshop on Human Rights within 10 Years of Reformation: Quo Vadis Development and Enforcement of Human Rights in Indonesia”, Tuesday (8/7), in Jakarta.

In his speech, Jimly reminded the importance of doing an evaluation and improvement to develop and enforce Human Rights in this country. From the side of life of the country, the development of democracy and Human Rights had caused polarization in the society. Those groups were the one that suspected also tended to refuse the idea of Human Rights because it was considered to be originated from the western culture which is individualistic, and the nationalist group which was anti-liberalism.

The two groups comprised one polar and became the stumbling block for the protection and enforcement of Human Rights efforts. They always acted suspiciously and a priory towards the Human Right Issues. “This is one of the challenges we are facing at the moment. The challenge will get harder if the misunderstanding of the human rights spreads among the people. As we know, the protection and enforcement of Human Rights needs full supports from all level of people,” explain the Professor in Law Faculty of the University of Indonesia.

Therefore, advised Jimly, the efforts for improving, protecting and enforcing Human Rights could not only be done by relying on the observation and action aspects. Education and socialization of Human Rights were parts of the efforts that became the responsibility of the State, especially the Government.

Education and socialization of Human Rights were not only the responsibility of National Commission on Human Rights but it also became the responsibility of the entire citizens. In this case, Jimly wanted all people to understand the content of Article 28I Paragraph (4) of the 1945 Constitution stating that the improvement, protection, and Enforcement of Human Rights was the responsibility of the State.   

As the head of a State organ that acted as the guardian and the interpreter of the constitution, in this forum, Jimly reminded the State (Government-ed) to continually give and improve attention, commitment, program, apparatus, and budget in order to realize the situation and condition so that the whole content of the chapter concerning Human Rights within the 1945 Constitution which became the State’s responsibility could be carried out optimally.

At the closing of his speech, Jimly expected the workshop could produce some formula of new, fresh, comprehensive and visionary steps to speed up the improvement, protection and implementation of Human Rights in Indonesia. (Aleta Febrinasari Sarumpaet translated by Yogi Djatnika)