Five Urgent Issues for Indonesia’s President to Address

 | 
02/09/2020

On February 10, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (known as Jokowi) will address Australia’s parliament. Indonesia is often referred to as the democratic success story of Southeast Asia and a model of Muslim democracy, yet it has been responsible for significant backsliding on human rights in recent years. This backsliding is serious enough that Australian leaders should ask Jokowi some hard questions during his Canberra visit. Indonesia has been working on updating its colonial-era Criminal Code for decades. Now Indonesia’s parliament is discussing a new draft code with a raft of problematic provisions that would be disastrous for women and minorities, and for many Indonesians in general. The new code proposes to punish extramarital sex with up to one year in jail and unmarried couples who live together with six months. Consensual sex between adults should never be a crime, and this law would disproportionately affect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. While it does not mention same-sex conduct, same-sex relationships are not legally recognized in Indonesia, so it would effectively criminalize all same-sex conduct.

Regions: ,

Share this:

Latest Global News

Added on: 12/18/2024
12/18/2024
Brazilian tennis player Joao Lucas Reis Da Silva spoke about coming out as gay and as others around him responded to it. The 24-year-old …
Added on: 12/18/2024
12/17/2024
Two Texas doctors did not have standing to sue the Biden administration over a 2021 policy statement that federal law bans discrimination in healthcare …
Added on: 12/18/2024
12/18/2024
Andhra Pradesh high court on Tuesday upheld the freedom of a lesbian couple and directed their parents to not interfere with their lives. Observing …

Explore LGBTQ+ Issues

Other News from ,

Added on: 12/18/2024
Andhra Pradesh high court on Tuesday upheld the freedom of a lesbian couple and directed their parents to not interfere with their lives. Observing …
Added on: 12/17/2024
As a queer Syrian man, Khaled Alesmael remains “cautious” about the rebel leadership who have taken over his home country. Having watched LGBTQ+ people …
Added on: 12/17/2024
In bustling metropolitan centres throughout India, a disturbing narrative of violence against gay and bisexual men is unfolding, challenging the nation’s progressive legal stance …