JAKARTA – This year’s commemoration of World Human Rights Day (HAM) takes a more reflective and educational approach. The Ministry of Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia held a screening and review of the film “Pangku” as a space for public dialogue to deepen humanitarian values through cinema. This initiative also affirms the government’s commitment to strengthening human rights understanding, particularly regarding the issue of women’s exploitation, the film’s primary focus.
The event was lively, with the participation of Natalius Pigai, Minister of Human Rights; Reza Rahadian, director; Adhie Massardi, human rights and film observer; and Yosef S. Nggarang, Special Staff to the Minister of Human Rights for Human Rights Fulfillment. The film “Pangku” was presented not merely as a spectacle, but as a social learning medium that reveals realities rarely touched by the public.
In the film review session, Yosef S Nggarang said that the work opened up a wider understanding of the issues of poverty, injustice, and the vulnerability of women and children.
“This film provides a new perspective for the government to strengthen its human rights policy, while also encouraging the public to respect the dignity of others,” said Yosef S Nggarang.
The review emphasizes that art can be an important bridge in building empathy while strengthening the direction of rights-based policies.
Director Reza Rahadian also explained the creative process of the film, which was born from the social phenomenon of “Kopi Pangku” (Pangku Coffee) in the Pantura region. He saw a human dynamic that was under-represented but needed to be highlighted for greater public understanding.
“I want it to be like this, ‘Pangku’ is screened, the audience sits in their seats and feels what they are watching and takes home the feelings they determine themselves,” Reza Rahadian hopes.
According to him, the voices of working women are the main foundation in the production of this film, which he calls a form of respect for women who fight for life.
At the same time, the academic community also demonstrated a positive commitment to celebrating World Human Rights Day. Ahmad Muajir, Coordinating Chair of the Student Organization (Ormawa) at Pamulang University, emphasized that this year’s commemoration would focus on educational activities without demonstrations.
“After discussions and coordination, it was agreed that Human Rights Day would be more effectively commemorated through educational activities on campus, and there are no plans to take to the streets,” said Ahmad Muajir.
The series of activities will take place from December 9–11, including thematic seminars, panel discussions, workshops, and a student reflection program featuring human rights figures and academics. Ahmad Muajir added that the main focus is to deepen students’ understanding of human rights through constructive dialogue.
“Our commitment to human rights issues remains strong, but educational methods are considered more relevant to campus situations and more capable of developing critical student awareness,” added Ahmad Muajir.
The dialogue- and literacy-based approaches adopted by both the government and universities demonstrate a shared spirit: strengthening humanitarian values in an inclusive manner. This year’s commemoration of World Human Rights Day is not merely a ceremonial event, but a moment to reaffirm the importance of respecting human dignity through art, knowledge, and healthy public participation.