11/18/2023 Indonesia (International Christian Concern) — The Leimena Institute alongside the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia recently hosted an International Conference on Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy (CCRL).
With at least 30 renowned speakers from across the world in attendance, the conference marked the implementation of the Cooperation Agreement between the Leimena Institute and the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights. Its aim is to enhance the understanding of freedom of religion and belief in the educational realm.
“This international conference will be attended by various speakers, both national and international, in line with the implementation of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on December 10 with the theme Harmony in Diversity,” said Director General of Human Rights Dhanana Putra at a press conference.
Indonesia is viewed as among the worst persecuting countries in the world when it comes to religious freedom. In its 2023 Annual Report, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommended Indonesia to be put on the U.S. Special Watch List. This designation is a public declaration of the United States’ disapproval of the state of religious freedom within the country.
Christians face discrimination in the form of restrictive blasphemy laws, church registration restrictions, and violence from portions of the Muslim population which makes up 87.2% of the country’s population. Despite these challenges, the Leimena Institute has found success in their spread of Cross-Cultural Religious Literacy boasting 5,000 teachers from 34 provinces in Indonesia.
Former Senior Fellow of Leimena Institute and Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Professor Alwi Shihab said, “The CCRL approach enlightens teachers that, basically, we must be ready to embrace differences. Differences should not be an entry point for conflict; on the contrary, differences are inevitable, so we should manage these differences for the common good.”
We praise God for the progress He has made through his people in Indonesia. We pray for the continued guidance of leaders within Indonesia and a continuance of religious acceptance among all groups of people.
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