Jakarta, Lawyer.kompasone.com - Minister of Law and Human Rights (Menkumham), Yasonna H. Laoly, stated the importance of cross-cultural religious literacy in a world society that is increasingly multicultural and interconnected with each other. This was conveyed in the Minister of Law and Human Rights' remarks at the International Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy Conference "Human Dignity and the Rule of Law for a Peaceful and Inclusive Society" which was held at the Kempinski Hotel, Monday (13/11/2023).
"With increased understanding and respect for differences, society can become more inclusive and harmonious. For this reason, we at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham) together with the Leimena Institute have collaborated to organize a training program for teachers in the country related to cross-cultural religious literacy," said Yasonna.
The Minister of Law and Human Rights revealed the holding of the Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy Conference, which aims to increase public awareness about the importance of religious collaboration based on mutual respect between people of different religions and beliefs.
"We place the issue of religious freedom as very important because Indonesia is a very diverse nation," he said.
However, Yasonna admitted, there will always be intolerant and radical parties. In this context, the rule of law has an important role to guarantee and respect the rights of every citizen.
"Last September, President Joko Widodo ratified Presidential Regulation Number 58 of 2023 concerning Strengthening Religious Moderation. This regulation aims to strengthen harmony and unity between religious communities in the country," he explained.
Furthermore, the Minister of Law and Human Rights also touched on the connection between efforts to encourage religious freedom and world peace. According to him, these two efforts must go hand in hand.
"Indonesia actively encourages dialogue between religious communities at both national and international levels with the aim of increasing tolerance, respect, understanding and empathy," he explained.
Therefore, Yasonna hopes that in this forum the participants can share their best views and experiences in advancing cross-cultural religious literacy and human dignity in diverse societies.
"(Through this forum) we can contribute to joint efforts to encourage a more tolerant and inclusive society," he said.
On the same occasion, the Director General of Human Rights (Dirjen HAM) Dhahana Putra, said that the Indonesian nation had become accustomed to living side by side in diversity and a spirit of brotherhood.
Nevertheless, the Director General of Human Rights admitted that there was still a lot of homework to do regarding the issue of religious tolerance in the country. The reason is, referring to the Religious Harmony Index (KUB), the tolerance indicator in the country is still at 68.72.
"This score shows that there is still a problem of intolerance and the need for intervention to improve this situation, including cross-cultural religious literacy and strengthening religious moderation," he explained.
In order to encourage efforts to increase religious tolerance in the country, Dhahana stated that the Ministry of Law and Human Rights through the Directorate General (Ditjen) of Human Rights issued a number of regulations, including: Minister of Law and Human Rights Regulation (Permenkumham) No. 22 of 2021 concerning Criteria for Regency Cities that Care for Human Rights, which has included indicators for the right to diversity.
Apart from that, together with the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri), the Ministry of Law and Human Rights has ratified joint regulations between the Minister of Law and Human Rights and the Minister of Home Affairs Numbers 20 and 77 of 2012 concerning Human Rights Parameters in the Formation of Regional Legal Products.
"This regulation aims to prevent the emergence of intolerant and discriminatory regional legal products," he explained.
For information, this International Conference was held in collaboration between the Ministry of Law and Human Rights and the Leimena Institute supported by the Templeton Religion Trust, The
International Center for Law and Religious Studies at Brigham Young University Law School, and
International Religious Freedom Secretariat.
This international scale conference is also part of the commemoration of the 75th World Human Rights Day. Dozens of religious figures from abroad and ambassadors from friendly countries also attended the international cross-cultural religious literacy conference which was held for two days (13-14 November 2023).
