Indonesia authorities must take measures to protect the safety and freedom of religion of all religious minorities.

From now until 24 February 2012, do something to urge the Indonesia authorities to immediately guarantee the safety of the Shi’a community in Sampang, East Java.

Got 3 minutes?

Add your name AND copy and paste this link – http://bit.ly/yWxY09 - on Facebook and Twitter to share with your friends – can you challenge yourself to get 10 friends to take action?

Additional information:

One person was arrested for the attack but has since been released.

Many of the children were afraid to go back to their homes and schools. Conditions in the shelter were reported to be inadequate, with limited access to clean water and sanitation. In fact, the community refused to leave the shelter until they received adequate protection from the police and the perpetrators of the attack were brought to justice.

This is not the first time the Shi’a community in Sampang, East Java has faced intimidation and attacks – it happened in 2006 and 2011. They have also reportedly been pressured by anti-Shi’a groups to convert to Sunni Islam.

International Women’s Day is in about a month (March and if YOU(th) want to work with young people in Asia Pacific to defend women’s rights, we need to start working NOW!

This year, we think we should deal with some unfinished business – the regulation that allows female genital mutilation by certain medical professionals in Indonesia. This is a discriminatory and painful form of violence against women and young women in Asia Pacific cannot stand by and do nothing about it!

©Volontaire

Around International Women’s Day, our friends at AI will handover signatures to the Indonesian authorities to demand them to repeal this regulation and we think it’s important to make sure that the Asia Pacific youth voice is represented in the petition – don’t you think so?

Any friends and organizations who will be in Indonesia at that time and would like to take part in handing over the petitions to the authorities with our friends at AI, please fill the form below.

What will I need to do?
Organize one activity in your local community to collect signatures for the petition to call on Indonesia authorities to remove the regulation that allows female genital mutilation by certain medical professionals in Indonesia. The activity needs to be organized fairly soon and all the collected signatures need to be delivered to APYN by Thursday, 1 March, 2012.

Here are some ideas:

• Invite your friends to a coffee shop and discuss the issue with them. Afterwards, ask them to add their names to the petition letter.
• Set up a small petition stall on your campus and ask your school mates to add their names to the petition letter
• Put the petition papers in your bag, and whoever you see, tell them about the issue and ask them to add their names
• Got other ideas? Leave a comment!

What is a Youth Campaign Team?

A small group of young people volunteering to organize activities in their local community on the same topic – here, the issue is female genital mutilation in Indonesia. After the activities are finished, the group may choose to expand and do a longer term campaign on the topic.

What are the preferred selection criteria for the taskforce?

• Passionate about the campaign issue
• Aged (ideally) between 18-25 years of age (but it’s OK if you are older!)
• Able to access the internet at least weekly.
• Able to commit AT LEAST 3-4 hours per week to organize the activity in your application below
• Respond to group emails and participate in discussions
• Able to engage at least 5 other young people (your friends) in the campaign (through networks) – or at least try too!
• Able to share skills with other young people (online skills, activist skills, design skills, creative campaigning ideas, translations, administration and many more!)
• Able to communicate in English, and (preferable) translate into local language

How do I apply?
Simply complete this form by Tuesday, 14 February 2012 and we will be in contact with you as soon as possible!

Interested but no time? Click here to add your name to the petition letter to the Indonesian authorities!

Teman-teman Indonesia yang Mendukung Kampanye ini

(Click here for English)

(按此看中文版)

Ambil Tindakan untuk Minta Pemerintah Indonesia untuk Hapus Peraturan Baru yang Memungkinkan mutilasi kelamin perempuan!

Di Indonesia, peraturan terbaru yang disahkan oleh Menteri Kesehatan memperbolehkan mutilasi kelamin perempuan dengan syarat dilakukan oleh ahli kesehatan, seperti dokter, bidan, dan perawat.  Praktek sunat peremuan ini didefinisikan sebagai” Tindakan menggores kulit yang menutupi kulit bagian depan klitoris, tanpa melukai klitoris.”

Mengapa anak-anak muda seperti anda  harus mengecam keputusan ini?

Mutilasi kelamin perempuan tentu saja bukan sekedar “menggores kulit”- tetapi ini adalah salah satu bentuk kekerasan dan diskriminasi terhadap perempuan.

©Volontaire

Teman-teman di AI memberitahu kita bahwa secara umum, masyarakat memutuskan untuk mutilasi kelamin perempuan mereka karena beberapa alasan, seperti agama, menjamin “kebersihan” perempuan, menghindari penyakit, melanggengkan praktik budaya atau lokal ataupun untuk mengatur dan menekan hasrat kaum perempuan atas “aktivitas seksual” padamasa dewasanya kelak.

Peraturan baru ini juga bertentangan dengan hukum di Indonesia! (Klik di sini untuk detail)

Anda hanya punya waktu 3 detik saja?
Tolong kirimkan permohonan berikut ke pemerintah Indonesia untuk secepatnya mencabut peraturan Menteri Kesehatan tentang sunat perempuan-cantumkan nama anda di bawah ini!  Kami berharap dapat menyampaikan semua surat-surat anda(seperti terlampir di bawah ini) secara langsung sebelum tanggal 8 March 2012, pada Hari Perempuan Internasional.  

Anda punya waktu 3 menit saja?
Kirimkan laman ini http://bit.ly/nofgm ke 30 teman anda dan juga jangan lupa untuk mencantumkan nama mereka di surat berbahasa Indonesia di bawah ini.

Anda memiliki waktu luang?
Hubungi kami di apynaction@gmail.com untuk terlibat lebih jauh.

Apa hukum Peraturan Menteri Kesehatan Nomor 1636/MENKES/PER/XI/2010 tentang “Sunat Perempuan” melanggar?

• UU No. 7/1984 mengenai ratifikasi Konvensi Internasional Penghapusan Segala Bentuk Diskriminasi terhadap Wanita(CEDAW)
• UU No. 5/1998 mengenai ratifikasi Konvensi Menentang Penyiksaan(CAT)
• UU No. 39/1999 mengenai Hak Asasi Manusia
• UU No. 23/2002 mengenai Perlindungan Anak
• UU No. 23/2004 mengenai Penghapusan Kekerasan dalam Rumah Tangga
• UU No. 23/2009 mengenai Kesehatan

Keputusan ini juga berlawanan dengan surat edaran pemerintah tahun 2006 No. HK.00.07.1.3. 1047a, ditandatangani Dirjen Bina Kesehatan Masyarakat, yang secara khusus memperingatkan dampak negatif kesehatan mutilasi kelamin pada perempuan.

AMBIL TINDAKAN SEKARANG

Anda tidak sendiri dalam perjuangan ini-beberapa organisasi lain!

Take Action to Ask the Indonesian Authorities to Remove the New Regulation that Allows Female Genital Mutilation!

In Indonesia, a new regulation by the Ministry of Health allows female genital mutilation (FGM) by certain medical professionals, like doctors, midwives and nurses. It defines the practice as “the act of scratching the skin covering the front of the clitoris, without hurting the clitoris”.

Why should YOU(th) take action?

Female genital mutilation is definitely NOT just “a scratch on the skin” – it is a discriminatory and painful form of violence against women!

Our friends in AI tell us that some of the reasons people chose female genital mutilation for their baby girls are for religious reasons, to ensure the girl’s “cleanliness”, to avoid diseases, to perpetuate cultural or local practices or to regulate or suppress the girls’ urge towards “sexual activity” during adulthood.

This new regulation also violates a whole list of Indonesian laws! (Scroll down for the entire list)

Got 3 seconds?
Please ask the Indonesian authorities to immediately repeal the 2010 Regulation of the Minister of Health on “female circumcision” (“sunat perempuan”) by sending a letter to them – just add your name below! We hope to deliver all the letters by hand (appearing with your details like below) on or before 8 March 2012 – International Women’s Day.

Got 3 minutes?
Send this link - http://bit.ly/nofgm - to 30 of your friends and ask them to add their name to the letter in Indonesian.

Got more time?
Contact us at apynaction@gmail.com about getting further involved.

What laws do the Regulation of the Minister of Health No. 1636/MENKES/PER/XI/2010 on “female circumcision” (“sunat perempuan”) violate?

• Law No. 7/1984 on the ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
• Law No. 5/1998 on the ratification of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT)
• Law No. 39/1999 on Human Rights
• Law No. 23/2002 on Child Protection
• Law No. 23/2004 on the Elimination of Domestic Violence
• Law No. 23/2009 on Health

It also contradicts a 2006 government circular, No. HK.00.07.1.3. 1047a, signed by the Director of Community Health, which specifically warned about the negative health effects of female genital mutilation on women.

YOU(th) are not alone in this battle – many organizations are in on this too!

請即行動！要求印尼當局廢除允許切割女性生殖器新條例！

印尼衛生部公告了一項新條例，允許由專業醫療人員，如醫生、助產士及護士切割女性生殖器 ，並定義為 「刮掉覆蓋陰蒂前面的皮膚, 而不傷及陰蒂」。

為什麼你要採取行動？

切割女性生殖器是痛苦及針對婦女的暴力行為，而並非「在皮膚上的划痕」。

AI的朋友告訴我們，有些人切割自己初生女兒的生殖器 ，是出於宗教原因，確保女孩的「潔淨」、避免疾病、延續本土文化或風俗、或控制或抑制少女在成年其間的性慾。

這項新條例，也違反了印尼多項法律條文 ！（如看條文, 請向下捲動頁面）

三秒鐘行動

請去信要求印尼當局立即廢除2010年衛生部有關切割女性生殖器的條例。

你只需於以下信件中加上你的名字！我們希望於2012年3月8日（國際婦女節日）或之前，親手提交所有信件。

信件將會顯示你的姓名、年齡、性別、及國家，以印尼文發出。

三分鐘行動

呼籲更多人一起行動！請傳送連結 http://bit.ly/nofgm 給最少三十位朋友。

想進一步參與行動?

請電郵致apynaction@gmail.com與我們聯絡。

衛生部有關切割女性生殖器的條例(條例編號:1636/MENKES/PER/XI/2010)違反了哪些法律條文？

• 《消除對婦女一切形式歧視國際公約》第7/1984條
• 《禁止酷刑和其他殘忍，不人道或有辱人格的待遇或處罰公約》第5 /1998條
• 人權法第39/1999條
• 兒童保護法第23/2002條
• 消除家庭暴力法第 23/2004條
• 衛生法第23/2009條

這也違反2006年由社區衞生署署長簽署之政府通告第HK.00.07.1.3.1047a條，當中特別提出女性割禮對女性健康所帶來的負面影響。

你並不是單獨行動！許多組織都參與反對切割女性生殖器！

Have you ever been arrested or convicted for taking part in a flag ceremony? Ask Filep Karma.

After attending an annual Papuan independence flag ceremony, which the police violently cracked down, Filep Karma was charged and convicted of rebellion (under Article 106 and 110 of the Indonesia Criminal Code for rebellion)  in 2005 and is serving 15 years in prison as YOU(th) are reading this.

As young people in Asia Pacific, YOU(th) can do something for Filep Karma.

Got 3 seconds?
Just add your name to the form and we will send your letter to the Attorney General.

Got 3 minutes?
Add your name to the form AND share it with your friends!

Mr. Basrief Arief
Attorney General
J1. Sultan Hasanuddin No.1
Kebayoran Baru
Jakarta Seltan 12130
Indonesia
Fax: +62 21 725 0213

Dear Attorney General,
I am writing to express my concern for Filep Karma, a man charged and convicted of rebellion in 2005 after taking part in an annual ceremony at which a Papuan independence flag was raised.

I am writing to urge you to:

• charge him with an internationally recognizable criminal offence or immediately and unconditionally release him, as he was originally imprisoned solely for peacefully expressing his views,
• ensure that while in prison, his basic rights to ongoing access to legal counsel, his family and adequate medical care are respected,
  
• ensure that all detention and judicial procedures comply with Indonesia’s obligations under the ICCPR, and
  
• repeal or else amend Articles 106 and 110 of the Criminal Code so that these articles are no longer used to criminalize freedom of expression

Yours sincerely,
[your name], [your age], [your country]

Got 30 minutes?
Use the letter above as a sample and write a letter to the Attorney General and post or fax your letter direct. Ask your friends too do this to.

Did you know? (additional information)

• According to Papua’s Special Autonomy Law, The Morning Star Flag ratified in 2002, the Morning Star flag can only be raised if the Flag of Indonesia is also raised, and is higher than the Morning Star flag.
• Many peaceful political activities are considered a crime in Indonesia
• Activists are denied their freedom of expression
• These repressive laws are especially severe in areas with a history of pro-independence
• As of June 2009, at least 60 people are serving long-term imprisonment for raising or waving peacefully the pro-independence flags in Maluku and Papua

What happened to Filep Karma?

• Hundreds of people were at the flag ceremony on December 1, 2004
• Police fired shots and beat the people with batons
• Police ended the ceremony with force
• Filep Karma was arrested
• The police beat him on their way to the station
• A group of 20 students protested at the station and were also arrested but released afterwards, except for Yusak Pakage
• Filep and Yusak were both charged for rebellion
• While in detention, he has been ill-treated and beaten by prison guards. Although he reported the beating to the police, we do not know if any investigation was taken.
• In May 2005, the court founded them both guilty of ‘betraying’ Indonesia by flying the Papua flag. Filep was sentenced to 15 years in prison and Yusak to 10 years
• On July 2010, Yusak was released after a presidential pardon
• Filep is still in prison.

Bahasa Malay version here

Chair, Parliamentary Commission IX
House of People’s Representatives
Dr. Ribka Tjiptaning
Kompleks Gedung Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat
Jl. Gatot Subroto
Senayan
Jakarta, 10270, Indonesia
Fax: +62-21-5756045

Dear Dr. Ribka Tjiptaning,

I am writing to raise my concern that domestic workers in Indonesia are not recognized legally as workers and do not enjoy all the rights that are provided for in international law and standards.

I understand that the Parliamentary Commission IX is responsible for the initial debate and amendment to the draft Domestic Workers bill.

I appeal to you that consider the inclusion of provisions that respect human rights including:

• Provisions relating to reasonable limitation of working hours through clearly defined maximum hours of work in 24 hours and per week;
• Clearly defined weekly rest and leave periods (annual leave, public holidays, sick leave, maternity leave);
• Clear standards to ensure remuneration adequate to secure a life with dignity; clear standards for night work and overtime, including adequate remuneration;
• Standards on termination of employment; dispute resolution mechanisms, including access to courts.
• The right to collective bargaining and freedom of association must also be guaranteed to domestic workers.
• Provisions for the establishment of mechanisms to monitor the situation of domestic workers.
• Provisions to ensure sexual and reproductive rights to domestic workers including access to information and services on family planning and contraceptives.

I request that you ensure that there is an equal protection of domestic workers rights and those measures are developed to protect domestic workers from gender-based discrimination, psychological, physical and sexual violence and other human rights abuses.

Thank you for your consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Speak Bahasa Indonesia? Join APYN online here

Like us on Facebook

Another language?  Join Us now

Everyday for your employer and their family:

• You generally need to cook, wash clothes, clean the house, look after children and do the shopping.
• You often work very long hours, being allowed little or no rest, reports indicate some domestic workers being forced to work 21-22 hours per day, seven days a week.
• You are likely to not be permitted to take holiday leave (even public holidays)
• You sometimes don’t get paid for months and when you do, often it is less money than you agreed to when you first were employed – and much less than minimum wage in Indonesia.
• You may also not be able to leave your employers house, or are prevented from joining meetings or social events outside the home. Perhaps you are even locked in your room at night.
• You live with a high risk of experiencing physical and sexual violence, and very limited opportunities to seek justice for this when it occurs, not only due to limitations in the law, but also as you are afraid to speak out against your employer as you may lose your job.

Imagine this, everyday…

Women domestic workers in Indonesia face human rights abuses at work including economic exploitation, poor working conditions as well as gender-based discrimination.  The approximately 2.6 million domestic workers are subjected to physical, psychological and sexual violence. In  Indonesia,  women  domestic  workers  are  not  protected  by  current  legislation safeguarding  workers  rights,  in  particular  the  2003  Manpower  Act  (No.13/2003,  Undang-Undang  tentang  Ketenagakerjaan).

For a number of years, civil society groups working on the rights of domestic workers have been campaigning for a specific law on domestic workers that will recognize them legally as workers and that will safeguard their rights.

Imagine for a moment, what you can do to change the everyday for domestic workers in Indonesia.

The Indonesian parliament has included a domestic workers bill in their legislative agenda for 2010.  Domestic worker groups coordinated by the domestic workers coalition Jala-PRT have planned a series of activities over the next few months to ensure the bill is debated and that it integrates international human rights standards. To support the initiative of Jala-PRT and its global friends, and to highlight the following concerns, we ask YOU to take action now by adding your name to the letter below.

Your name and details will be added to a copy of this letter and sent to the Chair of the Parliamentary Commission IX. This commission will initially debate and amend the draft bill.

Take action now and help create a better everyday.

A new Indonesia bylaw endorses stoning to death for adultery and caning of up to 100 lashes for homosexuality.

Town of Banda Aceh © PBI

The local Islamic Criminal Code was passed by the Aceh Provincial House of Representatives on 14 September. It forbids a number of acts including alcohol consumption, gambling, intimacy between unmarried couples, adultery and fornication, and homosexuality.
Local Islamic Law was gradually put in place in Aceh from 1999-2000 through various autonomy packages. Caning was introduced a few years ago as a punishment meted out by Islamic courts for offences such as gambling, theft and adultery.

At least 31 men and four women convicted of gambling were caned under local Islamic law in Aceh in 2005 and at least eight people (five men and three women) convicted for gambling or adultery were canned in 2006. However, this is the first time that local legislators have included stoning to death (rajam) as a penalty for those who commit adultery.

The governor of Aceh has indicated that they will not sign the Islamic bylaw because of their opposition to stoning as a form of punishment. However the law becomes effective after 30 days with or without the signature of the governor. The central government has also indicated that the law may contravene Indonesia’s existing human rights provisions under the country’s constitution and is considering filing a judicial review with the Supreme Court.

Info can also be found here:
Join the APYN Bahasa facebook group here:

Do Something!

Write/Email/Fax to the temporary Chairperson of the Aceh Provincial House of representatives:

Start your letter “Dear Chairperson”

Hasbi Abdullah
Chairperson of the
Aceh Provincial House of Representatives (DPRA)
Jln. Tgk. M. Daud Beureueh, No. 155,
Banda Aceh, Indonesia
Fax: + 62 651 21638
Email: dpr_aceh@yahoo.com

Dear Chairperson,

I am concerned about a new Indonesia bylaw, the Islamic Criminal Code, that endorses stoning to death for adultery and caning of up to 100 lashes for homosexuality and we call for it to be repealed immediately so that both the punishments and the crimes are abolished.

International human rights law and the standards oppose the extension of the death penalty to new crimes. Stoning to death is also particularly cruel and constitutes torture, which is absolutely forbidden under all circumstances in international law.

I am also concerned by provisions that criminalize adultery and homosexuality, sexual acts outside of marriage which are freely agreed to. Indonesian authorities must ensure that such provisions are repealed in conformity with international law and standards relating to physical and mental integrity and the right not to be discriminated against, the right to privacy, and freedom of expression.

I call on the new legislature which took office in October, to repeal the law as a matter of urgent priority.

I also urge the new legislature to ensure that all local regulations in Aceh are in full conformity with international human rights law and standards, and other human rights provisions set out in the Indonesian Constitution and in the 1999 Law on Human Rights.

Yours sincerely,

(add your name and country in here!)

The local Islamic Criminal Code was passed by the Aceh Provincial House of Representatives on Monday. It forbids a number of acts including alcohol consumption, gambling, intimacy between unmarried couples, adultery and fornication, and homosexuality.

“The new criminal bylaw flies in the face of international human rights law as well as provisions of the Indonesian constitution,” said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific director.

“Stoning to death is particularly cruel and constitutes torture, which is absolutely forbidden under all circumstances in international law.”

Indonesia’s central government has indicated that the law may contravene Indonesia’s existing human rights protections under the country’s constitution.

“We welcome the concerns expressed by different levels of the Indonesian government about these laws,” Zarifi said. “But the proof is in the doing, and as long as these laws stay on the books they pose a serious threat to Indonesia’s international human rights obligations.”

Some of these provisions, particularly punishment by caning, are not new in Aceh and already violate international human rights standards on cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

However, this is the first time that local legislators have included stoning to death (rajam) as a penalty for those who commit adultery. International human rights law and standards oppose the extension of the death penalty to new crimes.

Amnesty International has urged Aceh’s newly elected legislature, due to take office in October, to repeal the law as matter of urgent priority.

Amnesty International has also called on the new legislature to ensure that all local regulations in Aceh are in full conformity with international human rights law and standards, and other human rights provisions set out in the Indonesian Constitution and in the 1999 Law on Human Rights.

The Indonesian government should ensure that the decentralization process and regional autonomy does not come at the expense of human rights.

Local Islamic Law was gradually put in place in Aceh from 1999-2000 through various autonomy packages. Caning was introduced a few years ago as a punishment meted out by Islamic courts for offences such as gambling, theft and adultery. At least 31 men and four women convicted of gambling were caned under local Islamic law in Aceh in 2005 and at least eight people (five men and three women) convicted for gambling or adultery were caned in 2006.

@ ABC

Books written in jail by the executed Bali bombers are being sold lately in Jakarta, despite the government’s best efforts to stop their publication.

The books entitled “Martyrs’ Trilogy” contain writings and autobiographical notes by Amrozi, Ali Gufron, and Imam Samudra.

Local people found it quite hard to get a copy as the books are not widely distributed. Though some experts have warned that publishing books like these would help bind the terrorists network, some locals believe people can learn more from the books.

You may want to watch this news clip on ABC, and found out the views of local people.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/03/17/2518169.htm

- contributed by Alexanda B, Nepal