Yogyakarta, November 24-26 – The 6th Conference on Human Rights took place at the Department of Politics and Government at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta. This three-day event brought together scholars, experts, and practitioners from around the world to discuss pressing issues related to human rights, with a primary focus on “Indigeneity and Human Rights in Asia and the Pacific: Towards a Just Society – Challenges and Opportunities.”
The conference kicked off on November 24 with an academic writing session that involved 15 of the best paper authors. These scholars’ works were selected and guided by renowned experts in the field: Dr. Al Khanif from the Centre for Human Rights, Multiculturalism, and Migration (CHRM2) at the University of Jember, Dr. Grace Cheng from the Centre for Human Rights at San Diego University, and Dr. Elizabeth Rhoads, a Senior Lecturer at the Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies at Lund University.
The following two days, November 25-26, were dedicated to paper presentations by the selected participants, allowing them to share their insights, research, and perspectives with fellow attendees. The papers explored a wide range of topics related to indigeneity and human rights, and the discussions were rich and thought-provoking.
The event was made possible through the collaboration of various organizations and institutions, including the Centre for Human Rights, Multiculturalism, and Migration (CHRM2) at the University of Jember, the Department of Politics and Government at Gadjah Mada University, the University of Sydney in Australia, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia, and the Australian Consulate General in Surabaya.
The closing ceremony included Her Excellency Fiona Hoggart, the Australian Consul-General in Surabaya, delivering the concluding remarks. Her presence emphasized the international nature of the conference and the importance of cross-border cooperation in promoting and protecting human rights in the Asia-Pacific region.
The 6th Conference on Human Rights served as a platform for fruitful discussions, knowledge exchange, and the exploration of new perspectives, contributing to ongoing efforts to advance human rights in the region and work towards a more just society.