PRESS: Indonesian President endorses legal recognition of indigenous peoples’ lands as best way to save the forests

Indonesian President endorses legal recognition of indigenous peoples’ lands as best way to save the forests

Unable to attend the latest Congress of the Alliance of the Indigenous Peoples of Indonesia (AMAN), President Joko Widodo recently met with the newly elected head of the archipelago-wide organisation. He endorsed the setting up of a Task Force on Indigenous Peoples to oversee territorial recognition processes and noted that if indigenous peoples’ rights were recognised forests would be better looked after. The administration has set a priority to pass a new law on indigenous peoples, a draft of which is currently being discussed in parliamentary committee. 

Press release: President Joko Widodo Supports Draft Law and Task Force on Indigenous Peoples - English only