RESEARCH
FOREWORD
The Covid-19 pandemic, which has been going on since at least March 2020, has had a very
broad and massive impact on the fulfillment and protection of human rights, even with
the targets set by the Government of Indonesia in achieving the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs).
Research conducted by the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) with
support from the Danish Institute of Human Rights (DIHR) on “The Role of the National
Commission on Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia related to the Impact of
COVID-19 Pandemic on Human Rights and Sustainable Development Goals in Indonesia”
aimed to see the role of the National Human Rights Commission in encouraging the
management of the Covid-19 response from a human rights perspective and in relation to
the impact of Covid-19 on the targets for achieving SDGs.
The findings of this research confirm that ignoring human rights principles in dealing with
the Covid-19 pandemic has an impact on the SDGs agenda. On the other hand, ignoring
the SDGs as a framework has an impact on the fulfillment and protection of human
rights. Komnas HAM has the authority to ensure that the state pays attention to human
rights principles and the SDGs agenda in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. The role
and authority of Komnas HAM as regulated in Law No. 39/1999 on Human Rights is
demonstrated through the authority to provide recommendations to the government and
the House of Representatives where this is intersected with at least 7 Goals in the SDGs.
The COVID-19 pandemic has not yet ended, demanding more attention to human rights
principles and the SDGs agenda, based on the principle of not leaving anyone behind, the
need for reform of social protection policies, or guaranteeing citizens' health rights by
overcoming the unequal distribution of health workers. The seven goals in the SDGs that
have been discussed are a reflection of how the achievement of the SDGs in various sectors
faces serious obstacles and challenges. Especially in the midst of increasing cases of people
who have been affected or died due to Covid-19 since June 2021, it is very visible how the
management of the Covid-19 response must continue to be improved from various sides
so that the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic becomes more effective and accountable.
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