From Papua to Jakarta: The Uneven Geography of Human Rights Enforcement in Indonesia

Abstract

This paper analyzes the uneven geography of human rights enforcement in Indonesia, with a focus on the contrasting experiences of regions such as Papua and Jakarta. Despite constitutional guarantees of human rights, enforcement is often selective, with significant regional disparities in the protection of civil, political, and economic rights. The study uses a comparative approach to examine the human rights situation in the capital, Jakarta, and in the conflict-prone provinces of Papua and West Papua. Through a combination of fieldwork, interviews with local activists, and analysis of government policies, the paper identifies the structural challenges to human rights enforcement in remote and marginalized regions. The research highlights issues such as state violence, arbitrary detention, freedom of expression, and the militarization of governance, with particular attention to the government’s treatment of Papuan independence movements and indigenous resistance. The study suggests that uneven enforcement is rooted in historical, political, and economic factors, recommending a more equitable approach to human rights enforcement that considers regional contexts and addresses local grievances.