Jember University (UNEJ) and the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM RI) have officially strengthened their collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a Cooperation Agreement on Friday, August 8, 2025. The signing ceremony, held at the UNEJ Rectorate Building, was attended by the Rector of Jember University, Dr. Iwan Taruna, M.Eng., and the Chairperson of Komnas HAM RI, Dr. Atnike Nova Sigiro. This new partnership aims to advance education, research, and advocacy in the field of human rights.
In his speech, UNEJ Rector Dr. Iwan Taruna stated that the collaboration is a strategic step to enhance the university’s role in promoting human rights. “Through this partnership, we are committed to integrating human rights values into our curriculum, research, and community service. This aligns with UNEJ’s vision as a competitive university that actively participates in social issues,” said Iwan.
Meanwhile, Dr. Atnike Nova Sigiro emphasized the importance of synergy between educational institutions and human rights bodies to strengthen the understanding and enforcement of human rights in Indonesia. “Komnas HAM RI sees UNEJ as a potential partner in disseminating human rights principles, especially in the East Java region. We will jointly develop training programs, research, and human rights awareness campaigns,” she explained.
The ceremony also included a separate MoU signing between the Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at UNEJ and Komnas HAM RI. This specific agreement covers various areas, including knowledge exchange, organizing seminars and workshops, and developing a human rights study center at UNEJ. In addition, both institutions will collaborate on human rights case assistance and the development of human rights-based policies. It is hoped that this initiative will serve as a model for other universities in Indonesia.
The signing concluded with a symbolic exchange of documents and a group photo between representatives from UNEJ and Komnas HAM RI. Both parties have agreed to promptly implement concrete programs in the near future. This collaboration is expected to make a significant and widespread contribution to the advancement of human rights in Indonesia.