TAPOL

Promoting human rights, peace and democracy in Indonesia

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TAPOL(which means political prisoner in Indonesian) is a small UK-based NGO, founded in 1973, was originally set up to campaign for the tens of thousands of political prisoners remaining in Indonesia. Over time our mandate expanded to cover campaigning for human rights in general in Indonesia and East Timor. TAPOL works with a number of local organisations in West Papua and has a wide network of partners based in Indonesia, the UK and beyond.

Our mission is to promote human rights, peace and democracy in Indonesia and East Timor based on the principles of justice, solidarity, partnership, equality and mutual respect.

Our work focuses on two programme areas: West Papua and transitional justice.

Our West Papua programme aims to improve human rights and human security in West Papua by awareness raising and undertaking international advocacy on the severe political, economic, social and environmental problems facing the Papuan people. Our West Papua projects are concerned with the promotion of transitional justice in West Papua and the establishment of a web portal entitled ‘Initiative for Peace and Human Security in Papua’.

Our transitional justice programme aims to promote greater accountability for human rights violations in Indonesia and the establishment of more effective justice mechanisms. It also seeks to build the capacity of local organisations.

Our transitional justice projects are concerned with:
• Achieving accountability and justice for the victims of the crimes against humanity that accompanied former President Suharto’s rise to power in 1965/66.
• Achieving accountability for gross violations of human rights in East Timor.
• Contributing to protecting and promoting the rights of human rights defenders with a special focus on the murder of the leading HRD, Munir.

Volunteers are welcome by TAPOL.

Carmel Budiardjo is the founder of TAPOL.

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.