PRIME NEWS POST 

The INDONESIAN , (Aceh)— Khalid, S.Pd.I., Member of the Aceh Regional House of Representatives (DPRA) and Daily Chairman of the Aceh Regional Leadership Council of the Golkar Party, emphasized that human rights (HAM) protection in Aceh must be continuously strengthened by integrating Islamic values, local wisdom, and the principles of Indonesia’s constitution.

Khalid conveyed this message while serving as a speaker in a civic education event themed “Learning from Global Experience: Strengthening Human Rights Protection in Aceh.”

According to him, increasingly dynamic global developments present new challenges to human rights protection. Global conflicts, advancements in Artificial Intelligence, the spread of hoaxes and hate speech in digital spaces, as well as social and economic inequality, demand a more comprehensive understanding of human rights.

“Understanding of human rights must not stop at legal definitions alone; it must become a living value in daily life. Respect for human dignity must become a shared culture,” Khalid stated.

He explained that Indonesia already possesses a strong constitutional foundation guaranteeing human rights protection, ranging from the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia to Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights. Nevertheless, the implementation of human rights values requires the engagement of all societal elements.

In his presentation, Khalid also highlighted Aceh’s unique status as a region with special administrative arrangements, the application of Islamic Sharia, a history of conflict, and experience in peacebuilding. All these experiences, he noted, serve as vital capital for establishing a just human rights protection system.

“Islamic values, through the concept of maqāṣid al-sharīʿah, share profound common ground with human rights principles. There is therefore no reason to pit them against one another. Instead, both must reinforce each other to bring about public welfare,” he clarified.

Khalid also invited participants to learn from best practices worldwide. He cited examples: Finland building a culture of respect for human rights through character education; South Africa’s post-conflict reconciliation; Canada’s protection of indigenous communities; New Zealand’s emphasis on public participation; Germany’s anti-discrimination education; Norway’s transparent governance; and South Korea’s efforts to strengthen democracy through peaceful, constructive public engagement.

These international experiences demonstrate that human rights protection cannot rely on regulation alone — it must be supported by strong institutions, an active civil society, and a social culture that honors human dignity.

As a DPRA member, Khalid reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for pro-people policies, enhancing public services, increasing government transparency, and expanding public participation in development processes.

He also devoted special attention to the role of youth as agents of social change in Aceh. Young people, he stressed, must serve as human rights literacy champions, guardians of peace, watchdogs of public policy, defenders of vulnerable groups, and pioneers in the responsible use of digital media.

“Aceh’s youth must lead in fostering a culture of dialogue, rejecting violence, combating hoaxes and hate speech, and strengthening unity. Aceh’s future depends heavily on the quality of its younger generation,” he emphasized.

In closing, Khalid called on all societal elements to draw inspiration from global practices in strengthening human rights protection in Aceh — without abandoning regional identity, Islamic values, and local culture.

“Aceh holds great assets: peace, rich traditions, Islamic values, and the spirit of its youth. All this potential must be channeled into strength to realize an Aceh that is increasingly progressive, just, peaceful, inclusive, and dignified — within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia,” Khalid concluded.

Reported from various media sources //photo from Google documents // contribution by Prime News Post international online media // news.paper