Jakarta. Indonesia is keeping its fingers crossed that it will win the bid to lead the UN Human Rights Council next year. 

The government revealed Friday that the candidacy to preside over the body whose mission is to safeguard human rights around the world was still ongoing. The council has a rotating presidency system, and one of the Asia-Pacific members will take its turn in 2026. The candidate wins if they receive the most votes and a majority of the members present. The Asia-Pacific group includes Vietnam and Thailand. If Indonesia gets elected as president, this will be the first time for Jakarta to assume such a role.

“If we preside over the UN Human Rights Council, we will have much leverage and opportunities to advance the human rights agenda in our country or even beyond,” Foreign Affairs Ministry’s spokesperson Vahd Nabyl A Mulachela told reporters in Jakarta.

The council’s president serves for one year. Indonesia is currently holding its sixth term at the body, which would last from 2024 to 2026. Jakarta was also one of the vice presidents for the 2024 bureau. 

Chief Legal Affairs Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra recently drew up a list of 33 policy recommendations to several ministries and agencies, some of which touch on human rights. According to that list, Yusril had urged Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai to “sync data on the victims of gross human rights violations” by the end of 2026. Yusril said that Indonesia vying for the UN Human Rights Council leadership reflected “the government’s wish to play a bigger global role”.  

According to think-tank SETARA Institute, Indonesia scored a 3 on a 1-7 scale on the 2025 Human Rights Index. A seven indicates the highest level of human rights protection. 

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