VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - The National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) and a number of institutions within the Cooperation for Torture Prevention (KuPP) have urged the government to immediately ratify the Optional Protocol Convention Against Torture (OPCAT).

"This optional protocol ratification will strengthen the national mechanism for torture prevention," Deputy Chief of Komnas Perempuan Mariana Amiruddin said during a press conference here on Monday.

It would underline the country's commitment to fulfilling the Constitutional right to be free from torture as a right that cannot be reduced under any circumstances, she added.

The commission said the OPCAT ratification is important given that it has been 25 years since Indonesia ratified the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment through Law No.5 of 1998.

In an effort to prevent and fight against torture, the commission, along with five other state institutions, formed the KuPP in 2016.

The institutions comprise the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK), Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), Ombudsman, and National Commission on Disabilities (Komnas Disabilitas).

KuPP expressed its concern over the torture and inhumane actions that are alleged to have continued to occur in the reformation era as well as compassion for victims.

Inhumane actions, including torture and sexual violence, are frequently carried out by law enforcement authorities or institutions related to them, Komnas HAM member Putu Elvina noted.

These are evident from the various direct complaints, KuPP's research findings, KuPP monitoring team's findings, and news from the mass media.

According to Elvina, KuPP is preparing a report on 25 years of the Convention Against Torture’s implementation and the torture prevention campaign.

KuPP is committed to preventing torture through various activities, including the monitoring of correctional facilities, police offices, immigration detention facilities (Rudenims), and safe houses for refugees.

The activities also include research, public awareness development, capacity improvement of government officials, and constructive dialogue with various ministries and institutions.  (Antaranews)