The International Webinar Series on Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy in commemoration of the 76th International Human Rights Day was held in a hybrid format on December 6, 2024.
Jakarta, LKLB News – The Ministry of Human Rights in collaboration with the Leimena Institute held the International Webinar Series on Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy to celebrate the 76th International Human Rights Day on Friday, December 6, 2024. The webinar, which carried the theme “Strengthening Harmony in Diversity through Human Rights Education and Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy”, was attended by thousands of participants, with 4,810 registrants from 440 districts/cities and 16 countries.
Executive Director of the Leimena Institute, Matius Ho, said that true and healthy harmony in diversity must be grounded in and inspired by the understanding and recognition that “the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world,” as written in the first sentence of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“We may be different, but we must strive for harmony in diversity because we are one humanity with the same equal dignity and rights. Not a false harmony or tolerance, but harmony demonstrated in the ability to work together, to collaborate, to respect and protect one another as fellow human beings despite differences,” said Matius.
Matius added that the Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy (CCRL) program has been initiated by the Leimena Institute together with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia under the administration of President Jokowi. The CCRL program is an international teacher capacity-building initiative that is very much in line with and supportive of the Asta Cita, by developing Indonesian national insight through multicultural learning practices, utilizing information technology applications to strengthen social cohesion, and instilling values of anti-discrimination, inclusivity, and human rights protection, through educators who will pass them on to their students.
“This CCRL program, which was launched in 2021, has reached more than 11,000 teachers and religious instructors in 38 provinces, of which 57% of graduates are women,” said Matius.
Vice Minister of Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia, Mugiyanto, delivered the keynote speech.
In his keynote speech, Vice Minister of Human Rights Mugiyanto stated that Indonesia is a country that upholds diversity with the principle of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity).
“This principle is the foundation of harmony in the diversity of religions, ethnicities, and cultures in the homeland,” said Mugiyanto, who was physically present in Jakarta on Friday evening.
The Vice Minister of Human Rights emphasized that the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka is fully aware of the importance of preserving diversity in the homeland. “That commitment is embodied in Asta Cita Number 8, namely strengthening the alignment of harmonious life with the environment, nature, and culture, as well as enhancing interfaith tolerance to achieve a just and prosperous society,” explained Mugiyanto.
Furthermore, Mugiyanto stressed that freedom of religion in the context of human rights is a fundamental right. “Freedom of religion is a fundamental right guaranteed by international instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), as well as national instruments such as the 1945 Constitution and Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights,” said Vice Minister Mugiyanto.
He further discussed the government’s efforts in promoting interfaith tolerance, including Presidential Regulation No. 58 of 2023, which serves as an important guideline for enhancing religious tolerance in a systematic and sustainable manner.
“This regulation is an important step in the 2020–2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN). With a structured and measurable approach, religious moderation is expected to become increasingly rooted in society,” said Vice Minister Mugiyanto.
The Vice Minister of Human Rights also invited all parties—government, regional authorities, and religious communities—to work together in maintaining interfaith tolerance. “Let us work together to create a peaceful, inclusive society that respects differences,” he concluded.
The international webinar featured a number of prominent speakers, including Acting Director General of Human Rights Instruments and Empowerment, Ministry of Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia, Harniati; Deputy Permanent Representative I, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations in Geneva, Achsanul Habib; U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Rashad Hussain; Professor of Human Rights and Gender, Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University Yogyakarta, Siti Ruhaini Dzuhayatin; President of the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Secretariat, Nadine Maenza; and youth activist, Febby Cipta.