JAKARTA – This year’s commemoration of World Human Rights Day on December 10th in Indonesia took on a more humanistic and profound tone. The Ministry of Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia held a screening and review of the film “Pangku,” a film that addresses the issue of women’s exploitation in social reality. This event served as a space for public reflection to understand human values through the medium of art, which is more relevant to everyday life.
The event featured Natalius Pigai, Minister of Human Rights; Reza Rahadian, film 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 collaborative efforts of these speakers led to a lively discussion focused on strengthening empathy-based policies.
In his presentation, Yosef S Nggarang assessed that the film ‘Pangku’ shows the reality of poverty and social burdens that often befall women and children in various regions.
“This film provides a factual picture that can be important material for the government to formulate policies to fulfill human rights more clearly,” said Yosef S Nggarang.
He emphasized that in the lead-up to World Human Rights Day, the public is encouraged to increasingly respect human dignity regardless of background.
Meanwhile, Reza Rahadian explained that this film was inspired by the social phenomenon of ‘Kopi Pangku’ in the Pantura region, which depicts the struggles of women under economic pressure.
“The hope is that ‘Pangku’ can make the audience feel what they see and go home with feelings of their own choosing,” added Reza Rahadian.
According to him, the research process was carried out by delving into the experiences of working women who struggle to meet their families’ basic needs.
Observers believe this cinematic approach is relevant to the development of modern human rights advocacy, which relies not only on legal reports but also on empathetic narratives. The government hopes that audiovisual works will broaden public understanding and spark dialogue among citizens to promote sustainable respect for human rights.
On the other hand, the university community is also celebrating Human Rights Day through more educational means. The Coordinating Chair of the Pamulang University Student Organization, Ahmad Muajir, confirmed that the entire commemoration will proceed without demonstrations.
“After discussion and coordination, it was agreed that Human Rights Day commemoration would be conducted through educational activities and not through street demonstrations,” Ahmad Muajir emphasized.
The campus will host seminars, panel discussions, workshops, and reflection activities featuring human rights figures, academics, and social organizations. Ahmad Muajir added that education-based methods enable students to understand human rights issues more substantively.
“This approach was chosen to ensure a more conducive learning environment for human rights and foster critical awareness,” concluded Ahmad Muajir.
The combination of creative dialogue through film and strengthening human rights literacy on campus reflects the national spirit in commemorating World Human Rights Day. This year, the commemoration agenda conveys a powerful message: respect for human dignity can grow through understanding, empathy, and inclusive educational spaces.