KBRN, Jakarta: Australia’s Special Envoy for International Human Rights, Hon. Mark Dreyfus KC, said that he would support Indonesia if it decides to run for the chairmanship of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Dreyfus made the commitment while receiving a visit from the Indonesian Deputy Minister of Human Rights, Mugiyanto, in Canberra on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, local time. Dreyfus commended the establishment of the Indonesian Ministry of Human Rights as a governmental institution, viewing it as a significant step that reinforces efforts toward human rights protection through various initiatives.

“We strongly support the initiative put forward by the Ministry of Human Rights regarding the meeting of regional countries in the Asia-Pacific Human Rights Ministerial Forum and the willingness to attend in Indonesia, including giving support to Indonesia should it put forward its candidacy to become the Chair of the UN Human Rights Council,” said Dreyfus, according to a press release received from the Ministry of Human Rights in Jakarta on Thursday, December 4, 2025, as quoted by Antara.

He also welcomed the idea of holding a human rights dialogue between Indonesia and Australia, given their status as neighboring countries facing overlapping human rights challenges. Dreyfus stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation between the two nations, particularly following the recent meeting between Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

"The meeting between President Prabowo and PM Albanese must be followed up with concrete cooperation, especially in the area of human rights advancement,” he urged.

Dreyfus also conveyed his condolences over the floods that devastated Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

During the meeting, Mugiyanto introduced the Ministry of Human Rights as the President's extended hand in governmental affairs concerning human rights, in line with the first point of the Astacita agenda: strengthening Pancasila, democracy, and human rights.

He noted that several priority programs have been launched to foster an understanding of human rights principles among government officials (as duty bearers), the public, and business actors. The Indonesian government, he added, has ratified nearly all key human rights instruments and is currently formulating steps toward ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT).

Mugiyanto further informed the Australian envoy that his Ministry is planning a revision of the Human Rights Law, which is over two decades old and needs updating to align with the latest human rights developments.

"This aims to ensure the Human Rights Law further strengthens the efforts to implement the respect, protection, advancement, enforcement, and fulfillment of human rights, which is a government obligation," he explained.

On the international level, the Ministry of Human Rights is initiating the Asia-Pacific Human Rights Ministerial Forum to foster inter-regional dialogue on human rights issues. Mugiyanto invited the Australian Parliament to participate in this forum, an invitation which Mark Dreyfus readily accepted. ***