Universitas Internasional Batam successfully held the International Sharing Forum on Human Rights and Gender Series 8 with the theme “Election and Human Rights for Democracy”. This webinar was held online on Saturday, June 8, 2024, from 16.00 to 18.00 WIB via the Zoom Meeting platform.
The webinar was attended by participants from various countries, who gathered to discuss the role of elections in ensuring human rights and democracy. The event was opened by Ms. Nukila Evanty, Executive Director of the Women Working Group (WWG), who served as the moderator for this webinar, discussing the importance of fair and transparent elections as the foundation of a healthy democracy. “Free and fair elections are the main pillars in ensuring human rights and the sustainability of democracy,” said Ms. Nukila.
The main session of this forum began with an Opening Speech by Ms. Ninne Zahara Silviani, S.H., M.H., as the Head of the ASEAN Study Center, and concluded by Ms. Rina Shahriyani Shahrullah, S.H., MCL., Ph.D., as the Head of the Women’s Study Center at Universitas Internasional Batam, discussing topics related to elections and human rights.
The webinar featured international speakers and included a panel discussion with experts such as Dr. Md. Zahidul Islam, Head of the Department of Law at Bangladesh University, Dr. Stephen Sherlock, Visiting Fellow at the Department of Political and Social Change at Australian National University (ANU), Dr. Pankaj Choudhury along with Dr. Manashi Kalita from NEF Law College India, and Dr. Sri Nuryanti, MA, Director for Regional Research and Innovation Policy. They shared insights on the challenges and strategies of integrating human rights into the election process in Australia, India, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, particularly focusing on the role of women in elections, human rights violations during elections, and expert perspectives on elections in the countries discussed in the webinar.
The next session after the presentation allowed participants to engage in deeper discussions and interact directly with the speakers and panelists. The topics covered included case studies from various countries, strategies for implementing inclusive elections, and policy analysis to strengthen human rights in democracies. “Forums like this are crucial for sharing experiences and solutions that can be applied globally,” said Ms. Rina Shahriyani Shahrullah.
The success of this forum demonstrates Universitas Internasional Batam’s commitment to promoting global discussions on human rights and democracy. It is hoped that the discussion outcomes from this forum can serve as a reference for policy-making and further research. The collaboration between Universitas Internasional Batam and international experts will continue, with plans to organize the next series. Thus, Universitas Internasional Batam continues to contribute by creating a platform for important discussions on human rights and democracy.
Master of Law Program,
Universitas Internasional Batam
