Contemporary Issues on Indonesian Human Rights Law and Policy
Vol. 2 No. 2 (2025): April, 2025

From Papua to Jakarta: The Uneven Geography of Human Rights Enforcement in Indonesia

Mufti Al Mubarak (University of Cairo)



Article Info

Publish Date
05 Apr 2025

Abstract

This paper analyzes the uneven geography of human rights enforcement in Indonesia, with a focus on the contrasting experiences of regions such as Papua and Jakarta. Despite constitutional guarantees of human rights, enforcement is often selective, with significant regional disparities in the protection of civil, political, and economic rights. The study uses a comparative approach to examine the human rights situation in the capital, Jakarta, and in the conflict-prone provinces of Papua and West Papua. Through a combination of fieldwork, interviews with local activists, and analysis of government policies, the paper identifies the structural challenges to human rights enforcement in remote and marginalized regions. The research highlights issues such as state violence, arbitrary detention, freedom of expression, and the militarization of governance, with particular attention to the government’s treatment of Papuan independence movements and indigenous resistance. The study suggests that uneven enforcement is rooted in historical, political, and economic factors, recommending a more equitable approach to human rights enforcement that considers regional contexts and addresses local grievances.

Copyrights © 2025






Journal Info

Abbrev

humanrights

Publisher

Subject

Description

Contemporary Issues on Indonesian Human Rights Law and Policy (e-ISSN: 3164-5585) is a peer-reviewed academic journal focusing on human rights law and policy in Indonesia, with relevance to Southeast Asian contexts. The journal examines the legal frameworks, policies, institutions, and mechanisms ...