A new proposed partnership between the University of Oslo’s Norwegian Centre for Human Rights and Hasanuddin University in Makassar aims to strengthen cooperation between Southeast Asia and the Nordic region on peacebuilding and human rights, Times Indonesia reports.
The initiative seeks to establish an ASEAN-Nordic platform focused on research, education, and training in conflict resolution, at a time when global instability, polarization, and displacement are increasing.
The proposal is being promoted by Indonesian human rights expert Hafid Abbas and Indonesia’s Ambassador to Norway, Teuku Faizasyah. Both see the initiative as an opportunity to deepen cooperation between Indonesia and Norway while sharing experiences in conflict resolution and democratic development.
It brings together Norway’s experience in human rights and international mediation with Indonesia’s practical history of conflict resolution and democratic transition.
Key Indonesian examples include the Helsinki peace agreement in Aceh in 2005, which ended decades of armed conflict, as well as the Malino agreements that helped resolve communal violence in Poso and Ambon in the early 2000s.
Norway’s role in global peace facilitation and the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights’ academic work form the other pillar of the partnership.
The collaboration would include joint research, student and faculty exchanges, and training programs for officials, including a planned executive course on peacebuilding and human rights.
Supporters say the goal is to strengthen regional capacity for conflict prevention and position Indonesia as a hub for peace and human rights education in ASEAN.
