The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the proposed new criminal code in Indonesia.
The text adopted in plenary had been tabled as a joint resolution by the EPP, S&D, Renew and Greens/EFA groups.
Parliament expressed deep concern about the provisions of the draft criminal code, which allows discrimination on the grounds of sex, religion and sexual orientation as well as discrimination against minorities.
It welcomed President Widodo's decision to delay its adoption following large-scale protests that gathered thousands of people across the country and called on the Indonesian Parliament to thoroughly review the proposed Penal Code in order to bring it into line with international human rights standards and to eliminate all discriminatory provisions.
Parliament called on the Indonesian authorities to:
- protect the rights of LGBTI persons by prosecuting any persecution of LGBTI persons and by decriminalising homosexuality through an amendment to its criminal code;
- revise the blasphemy law, insofar as it poses a threat to religious minorities;
- establish a moratorium on all executions with the aim of abolishing the death penalty;
- address the situation in West Papua through political dialogue and to provide unimpeded access to West Papua for UN officials, NGOs and journalists;
- provide UN officials, NGOs and journalists with unimpeded access to West Papua;
- fulfil all its obligations and to respect, protect and uphold the rights and freedoms enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Recalling that access to health, including sexual and reproductive health, is a human right, Members called for proper and affordable sexual and reproductive healthcare to be guaranteed, including sexual education and information, family planning, contraceptive methods, as well as safe and legal abortions.
Parliament called for continued and close monitoring of the human rights situation in Indonesia, particularly through regular reporting by the European Union Delegation to Indonesia and Brunei. It stressed the importance of including binding and enforceable provisions on respect for human rights in the EU-Indonesia Free Trade Agreement that is currently being negotiated.