Policies and Measures that Support Inclusive Culture

Policies and measures that support inclusive culture has long been initiated by the Government of Indonesia. The relevant policies and measures include:
1. Law 39 of 1999 on Human Rights;
2. Law 19 of 2011 on Ratification of Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
3. Law 8 of 2016 on Persons with Disabilities;
4. Breaking Boundaries Festival (Festival Bebas Batas) 2019; and
5. Culture Week of Persons with Disabilities (Pekan Budaya Difabel) 2019.

Referring to 1 of 40 constitutional rights of Indonesian citizens specifically the right to develop themselves as stated in Article 28C of the 1945 Constitution, that "every Indonesian citizen has the right to develop themselves through the fulfillment of basic needs, the right to education, the benefits of science and technology, arts and culture". The government further guarantees human rights and the right to participate in all aspects of life through Law 39 of 1999 on Human Rights. The law guarantees the following basic human rights:
1. all human beings born free and equal in dignity and rights and endowed with reason and conscience to act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood in the life of society, nation, and state;
2. that everyone has the right to just legal recognition, guarantees, protection, treatment, and certainty, and to equal treatment before the law;
3. that everyone has the right to the protection of human rights and freedoms, without any discrimination; and
4. fundamental human rights that shall not be curtailed under any circumstance and by anyone. They are the rights to life, to remain free from torture, to personal freedom, to freedom of thought and conscience, to adhere to a religion, the right not to be enslaved, to be treated as an individual before the law, and the right not to be prosecuted based on retroactive legislation.

These policies are legal and institutional and implemented at the national level. The Human Rights Law affirms State obligations to respect, protect, and fulfill the rights of persons with disabilities. The government also shows its sincere commitment through Law 19 of 2011 on Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to respect, protect, and fulfil the rights of people with disabilities. The laws mentioned that the obligations of the government are protecting the rights contained in the convention, by adjusting the legislative/statutory rules and regulations, laws and administration of each country. The obligations also include changing the legislative/statutory rules and regulations, habits and practices that are discriminatory against persons with disabilities, both women and children. The government must guarantee the participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of life such as education, health, work, politics, sports, arts and culture, and the use of technology, information and communication.

The government also enacted Law 8 of 2016 on Persons with Disabilities, which guarantees the rights of persons with disabilities, including the right to:
1. employment, entrepreneurship, and cooperative;
2. culture and tourism;
3. expressing, communicating, and obtaining information; and
4. be free from acts of discrimination, neglect, torture, and exploitation.

The Ministry of Education and Culture, Directorate General of Culture, invites and provides opportunities for disabled artists to take part in the Exhibition of Artworks of Artists with Disabilities in the context of the Exhibition of the Expressions of Art by People with Disabilities at the Festival Bebas Batas 2019. The exhibition themed Meneroka Batas was held from 29 to 31 October 2019 at Pendapa of Surakarta City Hall. A team of curators decide and select artworks by 28 artists, which become part of the Exhibition of the Expressions of Art by People with Disabilities at the Festival Bebas Batas 2019. After going through the curation process, 38 works by 28 artists pass the selection and take part in the Exhibition of the Expressions of Art by People with Disabilities.

Festival Tanpa Batas as a space for the Expressions of Art by Artists with Disabilities was held from October to November 2019. This art exhibition by artists with disabilities from various regions in Indonesia was held in Surakarta City, Central Java. A series of activities conducted include parallel exhibitions titled Merupa Ingatan on 21-23 October 2019 at Solo Square; the main exhibition titled Meneroka Batas on 10-15 November 2019 at ISI Surakarta; Painting, batik and earthenware workshops on 11 November 2019 at ISI Surakarta; Art Discussion for Persons with Disability on 11 November 2019 at ISI Surakarta; and Workshops at four Psychiatric Hospitals, RSJ Prof. Dr. Soerojo Magelang, RSJ Menur Surabaya, RS Ernaldi Bahar Palembang, RS Dr. H. Marzoeki Mahdi Bogor.

Pekan Budaya Difabel 2019 held on 16-20 November 2019 is a step to involve persons with disabilities in culture and a continuation of the event that has been held annually since 2016. The followings are a series of activities showcased at the Pekan Budaya Difabel 2019 that wider audiences can enjoy:
1. Book publication;
2. Persons with disabilities culture week seminars 2019;
3. Persons with Disabilities culture week exhibitions 2019;
4. Daily shows; and
5. A musical play on inclusion.

In general, policies and measures that support inclusive culture are intended to contribute to the following achievements of the National Strategy for Culture (see Goal 1, Main Policies and Measures that Contain Strategies and Frameworks for the Development of an Integrated Cultural and Creative Economy Sector):
1. Provide space for the diversity of cultural expressions and encourage cultural interaction to strengthen the inclusiveness of culture (Agenda 1);
2. Protect and develop values, expressions, and practices of traditional culture to enrich national culture (Agenda 2);
3. Utilize advancement of culture objects to improve people welfare (Agenda 4); and
4. Strengthen the role of government as facilitator in the advancement of culture (Agenda 7).