Through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the United States announced a partnership with the Government of Indonesia that will advance social justice and protect the rights of citizens, especially the poor and vulnerable.

Empowering Access to Justice (MAJU) is a new five-year, $8.4 million project by USAID and The Asia Foundation that strengthens democratic institutions. MAJU will provide technical support, tools, and training to Indonesian government agencies, civil society organizations, legal aid organizations, and universities in their work to protect the rights of citizens, including religious and ethnic minorities, forest-dependent indigenous people in Eastern Indonesia, marginalized individuals, and female victims of violence and discrimination. USAID and The Asia Foundation will also support Indonesian government agencies and policy makers by providing research and data that can be used to develop strong, evidence-based policies.

“Indonesia has a continued commitment to strengthen the pillars of democracy and advance the development of a prosperous Indonesia that protects the human rights of all citizens,” said Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights, Head of National Law Development Agency Dr. Enny Nurbaningsih. “By upholding the law and the protection of human rights, we can have a peaceful, safe, and just society.”

“We are proud to partner with the Indonesian government in its efforts to fully realize the Pancasila principle: ‘Social Justice for All People in Indonesia,’” said U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Brian McFeeters. “We believe that democracy and inclusive development go hand in hand. By helping democratic institutions protect the rights of citizens, we can advance human dignity and spur opportunity and economic prosperity in Indonesia, particularly among the poor and vulnerable.” 

Through a special collaboration with MAJU, Intel Indonesia will provide digital literacy training to help civil society organizations better utilize technology to improve their evidence-based data collection and advocacy.

“Our vision is that the next generation of technology innovators is more diverse in ethnicity, gender, and geography,” said Anjan Ghosh, director of corporate affairs for Intel Greater Asia Region. “Focusing on technology adoption skills and working with the Indonesian government, USAID, and civil society organizations, we will help connect people to their potential and further advance citizen empowerment.”

MAJU will work in Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, and Papua.