What is West Papua?
West Papua, located on the western half of the island of New Guinea in the South Pacific, is home to hundreds of indigenous Papuan cultural groups with deep ancestral connections to their lands, as well as some of the world’s most biodiverse rainforests. The region is comprised of six Indonesian provinces: Papua, Central Papua (Papua Tengah), Highland Papua (Papua Pegunungan), South Papua (Papua Selatan), West Papua (Papua Barat), and Southwest Papua (Papua Barat Daya). This territory has a complex history shaped by colonialism.
Key facts about West Papua:
- Homeland to over 250 distinct indigenous Papuan peoples with unique languages and cultural traditions
- Rich indigenous cultural heritage and knowledge systems that have sustained communities for millennia
- Site of extensive natural resources including minerals, forests, and natural gas
- An unresolved political conflict, armed clashes between Indonesian security forces and armed resistance groups and a large social gap between the indigenous community and settlers from other parts of Indonesia
Human Rights Situation
West Papua has experienced a protracted human rights crisis. United Nations experts, independent human rights organizations, and international observers have documented patterns of violations against indigenous Papuans, particularly those who advocate for their fundamental rights.
Current human rights concerns include:
- Violations of civil and political rights, including restrictions on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly
- Excessive use of force and extrajudicial actions against civilians
- Displacement of indigenous communities from traditional lands
- Limited protection of economic, social, and cultural rights of indigenous Papuans
- Environmental degradation affecting indigenous livelihoods and cultural practices
- Restricted access for independent human rights monitors and international journalists
These issues have been raised in various UN human rights mechanisms, including the Universal Periodic Review and Special Procedures.
Vision of the West Papua Solidarity Network
The West Papua Solidarity Network is committed to upholding universally recognized human rights principles and international norms in addressing the situation in West Papua. We advocate for human rights protection and a wish to promote peaceful approaches to the unresolved conflict that centers the rights and dignity of indigenous Papuans.
Our core principles include:
- Promotion and protection of human rights in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related covenants
- Recognition of indigenous peoples' rights as outlined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Convention 169 of the International Labour Organisation
- Access for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and relevant UN Special Procedures to visit West Papua
- Access for humanitarian organizations, human rights defenders, and journalists to monitor and report on the situation in West Papua
- Advocacy for accountability and transparency in addressing human rights concerns
- Support for peaceful conflict resolution through dialogue and mediation
- Commitment to international norms of justice, equality, and non-discrimination
- Facilitation of constructive engagement between all stakeholders
We work through documentation, education, development cooperation, advocacy, and cooperation with diverse stakeholders to advance a human rights-based approach to resolving the longstanding issues in West Papua. Our efforts align with established international human rights mechanisms and peaceful conflict resolution processes.