Source: http://webcast.un.org/ramgen/conferences/hrc2006/four/hrc070321pm-eng.rm?start=00:12:41&end=00:16:31

Human Rights Council 
Fourth Session
March 21, 2007

Indonesia

Thank you, Mr. President.  First of all, allow me to extend our appreciation to both independent experts, namely the independent experts on the effects of economic reform policies and foreign debt on the full enjoyment of all human rights, Mr. Bernards Mudho and the Special Rapporteur on the right to education Mr. Vernor Muñoz Villalobos for their respectively thematic reports.  Let me first thank them both for the amount of work they have put into these comprehensive reports and we trust that the substance contained therein will enrich our debate this afternoon.  In this regard, we appreciate the fact that these issues are on our agenda in this session as they undoubtedly reflect important preoccupations of many developing countries.  With regard to the report of the independent expert on the effect of economic reform policies, Indonesia is pleased to note in the in-depth analysis contained in the report.  We note that the first part of the report given particular attention to debt-relief initiatives, their impact on poverty reduction, and its effect on the realization of all human rights.  The report also details key concerns and mentions the need for ensuring a more balanced and equitable development of social and economic policies at all levels of the global population.

We agree that trade liberalization combined with mechanisms that strengthen and improve national productive capacity would boost competitiveness on the global market especially with regards to poorer countries.  Moreover, the report points out the crucial way in which poverty-reduction strategies and reform policies affect competitiveness.  Likewise, economic and social impact assessment is also an indispensable tool in this process.  My delegation is of the view that the strong links between national economic policies and debt repayment capacity play a decisive role in the country’s ability to overcome, or at least manage, its development challenges especially with regard to the MDG’s.  Thus, debt relief initiatives should form a significant aspect of strategies aimed at alleviating poverty and assuring better access to international markets.  Moreover, my delegation believes that it is also important that countries should also be able to have and create their own policies based and established in establishing all their strategies for development. 

With regard to the report by the Special Rapporteur on the right to education, my delegation would like to welcome the focus of the report on the right to education of persons with disabilities.  We note with interest his thorough and detailed assessment of this issue within the scope of his established mandate.  This is particularly important in light of the recent positive development establishing a new human rights instrument to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities.  We understand that next week the Council will specifically address this new convention and in this regard my delegation looks forward to the opportunity to engage more actively in the debates of this convention.  Indeed, from the start, Indonesia has strongly supported the adoption of the convention on the promotion and protection of the rights and dignity for persons with disabilities in the context of the development of international human rights instruments and was involved actively in its drafting.  In this regard, we are pleased to be able to inform the Council as well that we are currently preparing to also sign this important document.  In particular, we welcome the approach of the Special Rapporteur in offering us some important and practical recommendations such as those mentioned in paragraph 84 of this report in which he recommends several steps to be taken by states in order to ensure an effective and inclusive education system for persons with disabilities.  However, we would like to underscore the importance of implementing these steps progressively, as well as the importance of international cooperation in the fulfillment of this right.  

I thank you, Mr. President.