POLICY BRIEF
SUMMARY
The COVID-19 pandemic has a severe impact on the fulfillment of Human Rights (Hak
Asasi Manusia/HAM) and the Sustainable Development Goals (Tujuan Pembangunan
Berkelanjutan/TPB/SDGs) agenda, globally. Indonesia is certainly no exception. Furthermore,
the COVID-19 pandemic has become a monumental event that increasingly shows the
dialectical relationship between human rights and the SDGs, where their principles and
agendas support each other. Lack of attention to human rights standards and principles
in the mitigation of COVID-19 results in set-backs in relation to the 2030 Agenda and the
achievement of the SDGs. Conversely, neglecting the SDGs as a framework for response
and mitigation is a missed opportunity to fulfill human rights. The National Commission on
Human Rights of Republic of Indonesia (Komnas HAM RI) is obliged to ensure that the state
pays attention to human rights standards and principles and the 2030 Agenda in mitigating
the COVID-19 pandemic. Komnas HAM’s role is explored through an in-depth analysis of
its recommendations to the government during the pandemic. The analysis shows that the
recommendations intersect with at least 7 SDGs. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic demands
more attention to human rights principles and the 2030 Agenda, such as the leave no one
behind principle, the need to reform social protection policies, or guaranteeing citizens’
right to health, by overcoming unequal distribution of health workers.
INTRODUCTION
The COVID-19 pandemic impacts human rights fulfillment and the efforts to achieve the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In principle, SDGs and human
rights are closely related: the SDGs can only be achieved through alignment of policies and
programmes with human rights standards – and, conversely, the SDGs serve as a strong
framework for realizing human rights. Therefore, the National Commission on Human
Rights of Republic of Indonesia (Komnas HAM RI) has an important role and position to
ensure that the mitigation of COVID-19 is in line with human rights standards and principles
and the TPB agenda. One of them is by monitoring and providing recommendations to the
government regarding mitigation of the pandemic.
In relation to this, Komnas HAM RI has prepared Tata Kelola Penanggulangan COVID-19
dalam Perspektif HAM (2020) document. Komnas HAM RI highlighted 18 issues which
-based on the analysis of this research – were intersected with seven SDGs, namely, Goal
1 (no poverty), Goal 2 (zero hunger), Goal 3 (good health and well-being), Goal 4 (quality
education), Goal 8 (decent work and inclusive growth), Goal 9 (industry, innovation and
infrastructure), and Goal 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions).
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