The Opening Ceremony of KontraS Human Rights School for Students “Youth, Creativity, and Social Justice Movement”

By all means, KontraS has acknowledged the possible avenue in order to initiate a solid human rights school for the university students in order to establish a ‘playground’ of the youth human rights defenders. The students are expected to excel in human rights, elevate their skill, understanding, as well as profound empathy to interact with victims and the less fortunate groups in Indonesian society. It is important to recognize the 7th anniversary of KontraS Human Rights School for Students (SeHAMA), since its establishment in 2009. Approximately there are 210 students have joined and become alumni, involved and to some extent keep in touch with the human rights advocacy throughout the Indonesian archipelago.

The Human Rights Course took place from 31 July to 18 August 2015, attended by 30 (thirty) participants from all over Indonesia. The Opening Ceremony was held at  Goethe Haus on August 2, 2015. The event opened with remarks from KontraS Executive Coordinator, Haris Azhar, Representative of the Embassy of Canada, Hui Nguyen and Principal of SeHAMA 2015, Puri Kencana Putri. SeHAMA Opening Ceremony was enlivened by the performance of the young Indonesian musicians Bondan Rastika and friends, and closed with a public lecture on Youth, Creativity and Social Justice Movement. Public lecture lead by Fr. Setyo Wibowo-Lecturer at STF Driyarkara, Kartika Jahja-a musician who is also a youth activist and Irwan Ahmett an artist- who commonly bring social issues and human rights in his work.

First, Fr. Setyo spoke about the philosopical meaning of social justice. He highlighted the definition of ‘fair’ is not same as breakeven, echoing Gandhi’s statement said "eye for an eye, then the whole world will be blind." Therefore, Fr. Setyo gave philosopical explaination on what is fairness actually mean. He gave an example with the approach of the death penalty which is applied in Indonesia. Fr. Setyo stated that punishment must have the correction mechanism, in which the capital punishment has an absence on it.

Second, Kartika Jahja delivered the topic on youth and movement, particularly the social justice movement. Firstly, Kartika explained that the youth movement is not dead, but it comes up in diverse way. The movement is always there to make a change as the society wants. However, if the society only plays a passive role, the movement will have no result. A movement does not have to be initiated or led by activists, in fact the whole society could be the motor of a movement.

Third, Irwan Ahmett, an internationally recognized artist who is engaged in social and humanitarian issues explained about the method used in a motion. A movement can be developed and affect a broad audience with a symbol. Irwan explained the development of the propaganda symbols from time to time. Irwan also explains how the real beginning of the revolution in Egypt was only started from a single video call to form an action and gathered in Tahrir Square which resulted housands of Egyptians gathered to demand justice only from a video spread by word of mouth.

It can be concluded from all the speakers that the social justice comes up with different element around us which can be extracted into a wonderful movement, as a luxury that owned by a nation.