KEMITRAAN, in collaboration with the Directorate of Religion, Education, and Culture at the Indonesian Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas), held a kick-off event for the Roadmap for the Fulfilment of the Rights, Protection, and Empowerment of Adat Communities (MHA) on 24 June 2025 in Jakarta. The event marked an important first step in designing inclusive and participatory policies that uphold the constitutional rights of Adat communities across Indonesia.
The roadmap seeks to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration to ensure the recognition, protection, and empowerment of Adat communities, while also supporting the acceleration of the Draft Law on Adat Communities (RUU MHA). The document is also designed as a strategic framework to help achieve the 2025–2045 National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN), particularly the agenda of Religious Harmony and Advanced Culture (Beragama Maslahat dan Berkebudayaan Maju).
The event brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from national ministries and agencies, academics, civil society organisations (CSOs), and members of Adat communities from various regions, especially those supported through KEMITRAAN’s ESTUNGKARA Program, supported by Australia–Indonesia Partnership Towards an Inclusive Society (INKLUSI).
As part of the event, a panel discussion featured speakers from Bappenas, the Ministry of Education and Culture, Universitas Indonesia, and young Adat representatives from Forum KAWAL Kasepuhan. The session highlighted both challenges and opportunities in advancing the rights of Adat communities.
Amich Alhumami, Deputy for Human, Community, and Cultural Development at Bappenas, voiced full support for the roadmap initiative, calling it a crucial milestone in ensuring policies that protect and empower Adat communities.
“Fulfilling the rights, protection, and empowerment of Adat communities requires strong synergy and collaboration across sectors, particularly to ensure they are meaningfully included and that their constitutional rights are guaranteed. One essential step is to accelerate the passing of the Draft Law on Adat Communities,” he stated.
Didik Darmanto, Director of Religion, Culture, Youth, and Sports at Bappenas, added that the roadmap would serve as a comprehensive tool for cross-sectoral coordination.
“The MHA Roadmap is vital, not only to synchronise national and local policies, but also as a monitoring and evaluation framework for relevant programmes,” he said.
Nurina Widagdo, Executive Director of KEMITRAAN, welcomed and supported the government’s efforts to uphold the rights of Adat communities within national development frameworks.
“Through the ESTUNGKARA Program, we’ve seen that Adat communities have strong capacity to lead their own development as long as they are fairly and equitably supported. This roadmap must reflect grassroots voices and position Adat women, youth, and persons with disabilities as key development actors,” she emphasised.
She also underscored the importance of collaboration between ministries, government agencies, and CSOs as a foundation for more inclusive and just policymaking.
The roadmap is also aligned with strategic indicators under the 2025–2045 RPJPN, particularly in relation to the fulfilment of cultural rights, freedom of expression, and the empowerment of Adat communities, including those living in coastal areas and on small islands.
Through this process, INKLUSI and its Partners remain committed to supporting the development of the MHA Roadmap as part of a broader effort to promote inclusive and equitable development, ensuring that no one is left behind.
