Indonesia-Australia Specialised Training Project Phase III

February - May 2006

This project is an Ausaid program funded by the Australian and Indonesian governments and the Castan Centre has been involved in IASTP since 2002. The Castan Centre’s involvement in this program reflects its mandate, to promote and protect human rights not only in Australia but across the world. Dr Julie Debeljak, the team leader of the program, explains further, ‘The Centre views this program, and other such programs, as an opportunity to engage with governments about human rights. At this stage, it is States that owe obligations under international human rights norms, so what better way to influence the behaviors of governments than through education and dialogue.”

The twenty participants in the program were drawn from various government ministries (including the Ministries of Justice and Human Rights, Prisons and Finance), regional government offices (including Aceh and Papua), non-government organisations, the media and academic institutions. Their participation in the program reflects a strong individual commitment to human rights and to implementing change, as they leave their families and homes to immerse themselves in another country for three months of intensive study, discussion and debate.

The content and format of the program is varied, resulting in a lively, thought provoking and challenging 12 weeks of seminars and on site visits to institutions which deal with human rights issues. The program addresses human rights at international, regional and domestic levels and topics include rights of women and children, terrorism, the right to health, conflict resolution and post conflict reconstruction.  Transparency, accountability and anti-corruption in government are also key themes in the training.

According to Dr Debeljak, the structure of the program is carefully balanced to give participants a solid foundation in human rights theory and concepts, while also ensuring that they “are equipped to translate the knowledge gained during the Australian training program to their workplaces and Indonesian society more generally upon their return home.” The various site visits in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra aim to provide “practical, workplace related training” and are combined with a strong emphasis on case studies and group exercises. This approach recognises the importance of participants gaining  “practical skills to develop effective strategies for the better protection and promotion of human rights in Indonesia.”

This focus on practicality, and returning to Indonesia with a solid plan of how to implement what they have learnt and absorbed over their months in Australia is reflected in one of the major outcomes of the program, the design and implementation of individual Action Plans.  “Change, however small or large, will be effected through the implementation of the Action Plans”, said Dr Debeljak.  “Each participant will leave Australia with at least one strategy to pursue to improve human rights in Indonesia upon their return.”

The program also provides the opportunity for a constant exchange of ideas and perspectives between the participants and the presenters themselves. As reflected upon by Dr Debeljak, “there are many wonderful moments when a participant asks a question or offers a comment that demonstrates a nuanced understanding of a human rights issue. Indeed, some of their observations make me revise my own long-held opinions about certain issues.”  The program provides a reminder of the value of discussion and debate, and of the value that different perspectives and experiences can offer: “Training programs are always a two-way street. There is always an exchange of ideas, information and knowledge throughout these programs. The greatest insight I have gained is with respect to Indonesian culture. This helps me situate debates about the universality of human rights, pluralism and cultural relativism in a way that no amount of reading could ever do.”