The Government of Indonesia will continue to strive to create a just and prosperous society for its citizens and strongly believes in promoting greater respect for both individual and societal rights. As progress continues, Indonesia remains firmly committed to these principles, as well as the principles of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights.

However, it will continue to recognize that one category of human rights must not be favored over another. As a country that spent centuries enduring the torment of colonial rule and authority, and a nation that successfully rid itself of staggering levels of poverty in only one generation, Indonesians fully respect and understand the value of human rights.

Indonesia will continue to promote civil, political, social and cultural rights and will also continue to develop human rights policies that are firmly in line with cultural norms, historical lessons and overall societal diversity. But for human rights progress to continue, the international community must look at human rights in this context and not judge one country based upon another country’s unique circumstances or political/economic agenda.

The dialogue on human rights must not be dominated by industrialized countries through an unbalanced and disproportionate emphasis on civil and political liberty issues. At the same time, Indonesia recognizes the moral obligation of all developing countries to strive for tangible evidence, however difficult and demanding, to improve civil and political liberties as an integral component of the overall commitment to advance economic, social and cultural progress.