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The treatment of migrants within Indonesia, particularly trafficked sex workers and domestic workers, is a growing human rights issue in the region. However, the traditional models of advocacy that predominate have produced very limited results in terms of actual government protection for this population. This initiative is aimed at enriching the existing approaches by enlisting international fora to address the deplorable situation of migrant workers in Indonesia and elsewhere. This undertaking will also bring to light the best-practices that are rapidly coming to the fore as a result of the recently in force UN Convention that protects migrant workers, particularly in the area of the administration of justice. The publication of abuses of migrant rights to the international community would also expand awareness of the problem and facilitate the dedication of more technical support to address it. In addition, the initiative would further the acceptance of human rights norms in Indonesia, since it could make public the benefits of the international human rights regime.

Despite its locality, the initiative will introduce the Indonesian public as being part of a global community rather than resist it. The resistance toward globalization is considerably felt widespread among local public figures. This situation can be remedied by introducing something that shows them the practical benefits of the globalization itself. Mostly, the existing initiative has failed to link the international law and human rights. International mechanisms has rarely been used or considered neither by the activists or scholars. Therefore, the initiative will be a pioneer in exploring the international law for the benefits of individuals. And it will also be useful to the migrant workers, mostly the low income migrant sex worker and Indonesian migrant workers, who couldn’t access the luxury of the international law. Additionally, the aspiration of these low-income workers can also be heard by the international community that in turn will urge them to respond in appropriate ways.Therefore, the initiative will serve as a bridge between the aspiration of locals and the applicable international norms.

This initiative is woman-centered. Every decision that is taken reflects the representation of women in the Institute. Therefore, every effort is putting significant more emphasis on addressing the peculiarity of the women’s conditions by focusing on the situation of female Indonesian domestic workers and foreign sex workers in Indonesia. Recently, the Institute have also adopting the policy of affirmative action by placing women, at least one, in the board of directors as mandatory. In addition, the Institute is also placing particular emphasis on the contribution of ethnic minorities in every project. It is shown in our membership that give the equal oportunities for all that have succeed with the recruitment of Chinese Indonesian Women as a members of our board of directors. And in the proposed project the Institute will also inviting more Chinese women to get more involve by interacting with the locals, especially the Islamic communities.

Commentary

The establishment of the Institute for Migrant Rights and its publications program is a very important initiative in Indonesia. It is the first organization of its type in this country and indicates substantial progress by the non-government sector. The step is also a brave one as Indonesia has had very little focus, to date, on the rights of migrant workers.

Dr. Robyn Iredale (BA Hons., MA, Ph.D)
Adjunct Associate Professor
Australian Demographic and Social Research Institute,
Australian National University, Canberra

IMR New Publication

Due to its unanticipated success "Hukum HAM Internasional" is reprinted and expanded. For more information please Email us at: . These are praise for its previous edition.

"Upaya memasyarakatkan prinsip-prinsip Hak Asasi Manusia (HAM) harus dilakukan secara terus-menerus tanpa kenal lelah. Sebab, hanya dengan menegakkan nilai-nilai kemanusiaan, seperti tercakup dalam berbagai instrumen HAM, suatu masyarakat dapat mencapai tingkat peradaban yang tinggi. Bahkan, tingkat kemajuan dan keadaban suatu negara dapat diukur dari sejauhmana negara itu memenuhi hak-hak asasi warganya, terutama dari kelompok rentan. Dalam konteks inilah kita patut mengapresiasi karya Pranoto Iskandar yang dengan cerdas dan kritis mengulas aspek hukum dalam instrumen HAM internasional. Buku ini harus dibaca oleh para praktisi hukum dan para penyelenggara negara agar mereka lebih manusiawi dalam melaksanakan tugasnya."

Siti Musdah Mulia, Profesor Ilmu Politik, Universitas Islam Negeri, Jakarta dan Universitas Paramadina, Jakarta dan Ketua the Indonesian Conference on Religion and Peace (ICRP), Jakarta

"Adalah sebuah kebutuhan yang mendesak bagi hadirnya sebuah pengantar atas hukum HAM internasional yang sangat mudah dipahami, mengingat hukum ini seringkali disalahpahami sebagai akibat dari keluasannya dan tidak [dipahami] sebagai hal yang dapat berpengaruh banyak atas berbagai perubahan di tingkat lokal. PBB memberikan banyak mekanisme yang cukup beragam yang dapat menangani berbagai ketidakadilan yang dengan sangat mudah kita temui. Saya telah berdiskusi banyak terkait dengan kegiatannya Pranoto Iskandar dan menyaksikan sendiri keseriusan atas komitmennya terhadap penegakan HAM internasional. Saya yakin kontribusinya akan sangat bermanfaat, utamanya, bagi semua pihak yang meyakini bahwa HAM adalah untuk semua, tanpa kecuali."

Frédéric Mégret, Profesor Hukum McGill University, Montreal, Kanada, Ketua Penelitian Kanada dalam Hukum HAM dan Pluralisme Hukum dan Co-editor (bersama Philip Alston) The United Nations and Human Rights: A Critical Appraisal yang diterbitkan oleh Oxford University Press (2010).

Praise

This initiative is absolutely essential to the struggle for migrant worker rights in Indonesia and beyond. The Middle East alone is home to millions of migrant workers living in deplorable living conditions, with little to no rights, let alone legal assistance. We support the Institute and anyone who wishes to tackle these human rights abuses should support the cause as well. We know that the Institute will do its best to provide sufficient legal assistance to thousands of workers in need, which is currently lacking worldwide, while providing solutions that can be effectively executed by both governments and workers.

- Esra'a Al Shafei, Founder, Migrant-Rights.org