Documentation of Recovery Models and Mechanisms for Women in Communities Affected by Violations of the Right to Freedom of Religion or Belief

The right to practice one’s religion or belief may be restricted only by law; however, such restrictions must not be intended to destroy or undermine the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and other international human rights instruments. Despite these legal safeguards, some communities continue to experience violations of their right to freedom of religion or belief.

This documentation highlights the diverse recovery initiatives undertaken by religious and customary communities in addressing the impacts of religion- or belief-based violence. These include initiatives involving the Baháʼí community, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Indonesia (Jemaat Ahmadiyah Indonesia), the AKUR (Adat Karuhun Urang) Sunda Wiwitan customary community, and the Buddhist community in Mareje Village. It also features the work of supporting organizations such as the United Sumatra Alliance (Aliansi Sumut Bersatu) in Medan and Libu Perempuan in Sigi.

Komnas Perempuan notes that, beyond the State’s obligations to respect and protect the right to freedom of religion or belief as enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), State Parties are also required to ensure effective remedies for victims. To this day, several religious communities continue to face prolonged discrimination and have not yet fully obtained their comprehensive rights as victims, including access to adequate recovery.

This documentation demonstrates how acts of discrimination and violence have affected women, identity-based and geographically based communities, as well as broader society. The impacts—both immediate and long-term—have transformed women’s relationships with themselves, their communities, and their environments. Consequently, individual recovery is inherently linked to recovery at the community level. Although not all cases show significant progress, the recovery efforts undertaken as expressions of resilience serve as valuable lessons for other communities experiencing similar situations.