Vice Minister of Law of the Republic of Indonesia, Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej, together with the Head of the Human Resource Development Agency (BPSDM) of the Ministry of Law (Kemenkum RI), Gusti Ayu Putu Suwardani, and the Executive Director of Institut Leimena, attended the opening of the Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy (CCRL) Training held on June 16–19, 2025.
Jakarta, CCRL News – The Human Resource Development Agency (BPSDM) of the Ministry of Law of the Republic of Indonesia (Kemenkum RI), in collaboration with Institut Leimena, organized the Socio-Cultural Training on the Introduction to Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy (CCRL), which was officially opened by Vice Minister of Law, Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej, on Monday (June 16, 2025). The CCRL training, held from June 16–19, aimed to support the realization of the Asta Cita of the President and Vice President of Indonesia, particularly in strengthening the ideology of Pancasila, democracy, and human rights.
“Civil servants (ASN) are not only technical executors of public policy but also symbols and agents of national unity. Therefore, their ability to act fairly, inclusively, and sensitively toward diversity is of great importance,” said Vice Minister Edward, popularly known as Eddy Hiariej, in his keynote address at the opening of the CCRL training.
Eddy emphasized that civil servants need to be equipped with the capacity to understand, respect, and engage in interreligious and intercultural dialogue, which has become an essential part of life in Indonesia’s plural society.
According to him, a civil servant is not only required to be skilled in management and regulation but also must be able to build cross-identity communication, create safe and equal spaces for all, and serve as role models in upholding the values of tolerance, justice, and humanity within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).
“The Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy training is a concrete manifestation of the government’s commitment to developing socio-cultural competence, carried out to support the first Asta Cita—strengthening the ideology of Pancasila, democracy, and human rights—organized in collaboration with Institut Leimena over four days, June 16–19, 2025,” Eddy stated.
The Vice Minister further explained that BPSDM Hukum, as the “Kampus Pengayoman Pancasila,” serves as a center of learning that not only focuses on improving technical competencies of civil servants but also on instilling the values of Pancasila. BPSDM Hukum holds a strategic moral responsibility to shape civil servants who are inclusive, possess integrity, and are adaptive to diversity.
“Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy is not merely conceptual knowledge but a leadership competency that is highly relevant to the governance of a democratic and civilized state,” Eddy added.
The Head of BPSDM Hukum of Kemenkum RI, Gusti Ayu Putu Suwardani, expressed her appreciation for the collaboration with Institut Leimena in conducting the CCRL training.
This CCRL training, jointly organized by BPSDM Hukum and Institut Leimena, was attended by 198 civil servants (ASN) within Kemenkum RI, consisting of lecturers (widyaiswara), heads of training centers, lecturers from the Indonesian Correctional Polytechnic (Poltekip), and other functional positions. The opening session was also attended by representatives from other ministries and institutions, such as the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, the Directorate General of Immigration and Correctional Affairs, the Agency for the Implementation of Pancasila Ideology (BPIP), the National Institute of Public Administration, and the Interfaith Harmony Commission of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI).
According to Gusti Ayu, this CCRL training, conducted for the first time in collaboration with Institut Leimena, aligns with the vision and mission of BPSDM as the Kampus Pengayoman Pancasila. The training will strengthen the competency of civil servants to implement Pancasila values in national and community life.
“We have an extraordinary mandate and an extraordinary responsibility to pass on the noble values of Pancasila to our students, especially to around 2,500 cadets at the Kampus Pengayoman Pancasila,” said Gusti Ayu.
The CCRL training was attended by 198 civil servants (ASN) within Kemenkum RI, including lecturers, heads of training centers, lecturers of the Indonesian Correctional Polytechnic, and other functional officials.
The source of inspiration for thousands of teachers
The Executive Director of Institut Leimena, Matius Ho, explained that the CCRL training aims to develop competencies in building relationships and collaboration among adherents of different religions and beliefs while respecting their differences. He stated that the collaboration between BPSDM Hukum and Institut Leimena could inspire thousands of educators—alumni of CCRL training—on the importance of collaboration between civil servants and society as a unifying force of the nation.
“The collaboration with BPSDM Hukum of the Ministry of Law will provide inspiration and encouragement to madrasa and school teachers, as well as religious counselors, who have graduated from the Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy program over the past 3.5 years—reaching more than 10,000 educators across 38 provinces in cooperation with over 30 educational and religious institutions in Indonesia,” said Matius.
Matius further noted that the pioneering efforts of the Ministry of Law could also have an impact at the Southeast Asian level. In the ASEAN Vision and Strategy 2045 document, agreed upon by leaders of ASEAN member states at the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia on May 26, 2025, the term “Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy” is mentioned as one of the strategies for creating an inclusive and cohesive ASEAN Community that respects political, social, religious, cultural, and ethnic diversity.
“For us at Institut Leimena, this collaboration represents the hope we have had since the inception of the Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy program in 2021, how government and civil society can work together, hand in hand, in a concrete and systematic way to safeguard the unity and integrity of the nation,” Matius said.
The CCRL training, jointly organized by BPSDM Hukum Kemenkum RI and Institut Leimena, featured speakers including Senior Fellow of Institut Leimena and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Alwi Shihab, Senior Fellow at the University of Washington, Chris Seiple, Professor at the Faculty of Ushuluddin and Islamic Thought, UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Inayah Rohmaniyah, Lecturer at the Southeast Asia Bible Seminary, Ferry Mamahit, Maha Nayaka of Sangha Agung Indonesia, Partono Nyana Suryanadi, Director of Hindu Education at the Directorate General of Hindu Community Guidance, Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Trimo, and General Secretary of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI), Darwin Dharmawan.