Gift for Jokowi: RI Selected to Join UN Human Rights Council

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - The new president Joko Widodo (Jokowi) got a special gift on his third day of government. The Republic of Indonesia (RI) was re-elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council.

"The re-election of Indonesia as a member of the Human Rights Council is a special gift on the second day of the government of President Joko Widodo, " said Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Desra Percaya in a press release received by Liputan6.com, Tuesday (10/22/2014)."

He said Indonesia was elected as a member of the Human Rights Council to represent the Asia-Pacific region along with Bangladesh, India and Qatar. Indonesia is a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the period 2015-2017.

In this election the UN also selected other countries such as Botswana, The Republic of Congo, Ghana and Nigeria for the African Group. Meanwhile, Albania and Latvia were selected for the Group of Eastern Europe and the Netherlands and Portugal for the Group of Western European and Other States and El Salvador, Bolivia and Paraguay for the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean.

Ambassador Desra also mentioned, Indonesia's re-election signifies the international confidence in Indonesia's efforts in the promotion and protection of human rights. Besides that, this election also showed support from the outside world on the new Indonesian government.

"For the future we are faced with the challenge to continue to promote and protect human rights at the national level, and to contribute to the joint effort at regional and international levels, "continued Desra".

Indonesia has been sitting in the UN Human Rights Council based in Geneva, Switzerland, since 2006. It was one of the first member states that became a member of the UN specialized agencies. This is now the fourth time that Indonesia has been re-elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council.