BASIS Programme kicks-off to boost civil society’s impact on sustainable development in Indonesia

Yayasan Penguatan Partisipasi, Inisiatif, dan Kemitraan Masyarakat Indonesia (YAPPIKA) and Serikat Pengajar Hak Asasi Manusia (SEPAHAM) Indonesia today held a kickoff event of the Building an Enabling Environment and Strong Civil Society in Indonesia (BASIS) project. The event, which took place at the Faculty of Law, Brawijaya University, Malang, East Java, focused on 'Promoting an Enabling Environment for Civil Society to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals in Indonesia'.

The four-year BASIS programme is funded by the European Union (EU). It aims to contribute to an inclusive, participatory, empowered, and independent civil society, and democratic space in Indonesia. BASIS will facilitate technical and organisational capacity building for civil society organisations and legal aid organisations in the target areas namely Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, as well as strengthening their supporting infrastructure (including learning media and tools, financial resources, peer-to-peer support mechanisms, and technical training).

Fransisca Fitri, YAPPIKA Executive Director, stated "BASIS programme is a real collaborative action to strengthen the role and ecosystem of Indonesian civil society in an effort to promote fair, substantial and quality democracy, targeting young people aged 18-34 as well as minorities and marginalised groups."

Reza Rahadian, Goodwill Ambassador of YAPPIKA, defined, "Civil society isme, you, and us. Civil society is an arena outside the family, the state, and the market, where people gather to promote common interests without using violence and respecting diversity," he added.

BASIS involves universities that will serve as knowledge-hubs for initiatives and collaborative spaces for various stakeholders so that they can contribute to the promotion of democratic space, human rights, and civil liberties. "Looking at the aspirational idea of the Golden Generation, all parties must collaborate to support the efforts of youth in social and environmental issues, certainly with a human rights approach," said Reza.

"We are committed support the BASIS programme. The role of youth as agents for inclusive development is essential. Indonesia needs young people who understand and willing to fight for development without leaving the principles of rule of law and human rights," said Prof. Widodo, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D.Med.Sc., Rector of Brawijaya University.

H.E. Denis Chaibi, Ambassador of the European Union to Indonesia stated, "Civil society is a strategic partner for EU's partnership with Indonesia and to deliver sustainable development impact for communities. Together, we promote democratic civic space, which is part of the enabling environment to achieve progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to complement infrastructure investments under our Global Gateway strategy. The EU is proud to support the BASIS programme to foster the role of civil society in the achievement of the SDGs in Indonesia."

Bogat Widyatmoko, SE, MA, Deputy for Politics, Law, Defence and Security at BAPPENAS, emphasised that the Government of Indonesia is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly to building an enabling environment and a strong civil society. This commitment is stated in the Presidential Regulation Number 111 of 2022 on the Implementation of SDGs Achievement.

Meanwhile, Anis Hidayah, Commissioner of the National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM) 2022-2027 said, "Komnas HAM is ready to collaborate and open for cooperation to advance human rights education and practices, looking at the current human rights situation we must support each other and continue to promote human rights."

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About the European Union (EU)

The European Union (EU) is the economic and political union of 27 Member States. Together, the EU has built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development while maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedom. In 2012, the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for advancing the goals of peace, reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe. The EU is the world's largest trading bloc, and the world's largest source and destination of foreign direct investment. Collectively, the EU and its Member States are the largest donors of Official Development Assistance (ODA), providing more than half of ODA globally. The 27 Member States of the EU (in protocol order) are: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden.

About Yayasan Penguatan Partisipasi, Inisiatif, dan Kemitraan Masyarakat Indonesia (YAPPIKA)

YAPPIKA is a non-profit organisation in Indonesia that works for policy advocacy and public service improvement in Indonesia. YAPPIKA was formed in 1991 as an organisation that believes that the welfare of a nation can be achieved if its community organisations are resilient. YAPPIKA has worked with various stakeholders. YAPPIKA's programme includes efforts to improve the public governance environment so that civil society organisations can perform their important social functions. YAPPIKA views improved governance as a prerequisite for the allocation of public resources for welfare and equity.

About Serikat Pengajar Hak Asasi Manusia (SEPAHAM) Indonesia

SEPAHAM Indonesia disseminates and strengthens ideas, thoughts, and knowledge about human rights in universities, the wider community, and state institutions and significantly involves lecturers and researchers from universities in efforts to promote, respect, protect, fulfil, and restore human rights of the people, both by the state and non-state actors. SEPAHAM's vision is to strengthen human rights in the tri dharma activities of higher education that are oriented towards the promotion, respect, fulfilment and protection of human rights.

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