UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination adopts NGO submissions on human rights in Papua

Following the submission of inputs on the human rights situation in Indonesia and Papua by indigenous peoples' organisations for the UN Universal Periodic Review in September 2016, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has considered, under its early warning and urgent action procedure, allegations of excessive use of force, arrests, killings and torture of persons belonging to the Papuan indigenous people in West Papua, Indonesia, and allegations of discrimination against this people that have been brought to its attention.

In a strongly worded statement the Committee requests that the Government of Indonesia provide a response to the allegations of human rights violations and information on

• the status of implementation of the Special Autonomy Law in West Papua;
• measures taken to ensure the effective protection of indigenous people in West Papua from arbitrary arrests and detentions as well as deprivation of life;
• measures taken to ensure that indigenous people from West Papua effectively enjoy their rights to freedom of assembly and association including persons with dissenting opinions;
• measures taken to investigate allegations of excessive use of force by security forces including including killings;
• and, steps staken to improve access to education of Papuan children in West Papua in particular those living in very remote areas.

The full statement by CERD can be read here. The September 2016 submission on the human rights situation in Indonesia with specific focus on human rights in Papua is available here.