Since 2015 to 2024, SETARA Institute has consistently compiled and published the Tolerant City Index (Indeks Kota Toleran/IKT), a study aimed at promoting best practices in tolerance among cities across Indonesia. Over the years, the Tolerant City Index has successfully encouraged municipalities to accelerate the development of local ecosystems that foster tolerance.
To provide a shared platform for cities and regencies to exchange experiences and knowledge on advancing tolerance, SETARA Institute organizes the Tolerant Cities Conference (Konferensi Kota Toleran/KKT). The first Tolerant Cities Conference (KKT I) was hosted by the City of Singkawang in 2025, coinciding with the International Day for Tolerance on 16 November 2025. KKT 2025 adopted the theme “Strengthening Initiatives and Collaboration, Building an Ecosystem of Tolerance.” Through this theme, SETARA Institute sought to encourage collaboration and innovation in promoting tolerance. Such collaboration and local initiatives are expected to inspire all stakeholders to jointly contribute to building a sustainable ecosystem of tolerance within their respective regions.
SETARA Institute views tolerance as one of the key instruments for strengthening the social capital necessary for the development of the Indonesian nation-state, which from its earliest foundation chose the historical path of becoming a unitary state founded upon the principle of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity). The Tolerant Cities Conference represents an initiative to encourage not only cities but also provinces and regencies, as political and administrative entities, to work collectively in fulfilling their historic responsibility to strengthen Indonesia’s diversity. More than a formal or technocratic gathering, the Conference serves as a platform where people from different positions and interests come together on equal footing. Local governments, academics, civil society organizations, religious communities, public policy practitioners, and young leaders gather in an inclusive space for dialogue.
In addition to serving as a forum that brings together key actors committed to advancing tolerance and strengthening diversity, the Conference also provides opportunities for participants to exchange knowledge and experiences regarding innovations in public policy and regulations, budgeting, planning, program implementation, and the involvement of all elements of society in promoting tolerance. KKT Singkawang 2025 was attended by representatives from 27 regencies and municipalities across Indonesia, with participation exceeding 250 delegates.
Throughout the conference, participants from various regions attended not only to listen but also to share the innovative approaches they have developed to promote tolerance within their own local contexts. This exchange reflected the shared commitment and collective spirit of key regional stakeholders to work together in building tolerant and inclusive cities and regencies.
The conference was attended by representatives from 27 regencies and municipalities as well as one provincial government, represented by regional leaders, local government agencies, interfaith leaders, and civil society organizations. Participating local governments signed the Joint Declaration of Commitment to Accelerate the Development of Regional Ecosystems of Tolerance, witnessed by representatives of the Central Government, Provincial Government, and Civil Society Organizations.
The declaration was signed by, among others, Tjhai Chui Mie (Mayor of Singkawang), Dedy Yon Supriyono (Mayor of Tegal), Robby Hernawan (Mayor of Salatiga), Wesly Silalahi (Mayor of Pematang Siantar), Johannes Rettob (Regent of Mimika), Muhammadin (Vice Mayor of Singkawang), Ananda (Vice Mayor of Banjarmasin), Bobby Maulana (Vice Mayor of Sukabumi), Amru Chanwari (Vice Regent of Kayong Utara), as well as representatives of local government agencies (OPD) and the Forum for Religious Harmony (FKUB) from the cities and regencies of Bekasi, Bengkayang, Bogor, Ciamis, Depok, Kediri, Klaten, Makassar, Manado, Palangka Raya, Palembang, Pontianak, Semarang, Mempawah, Muara Enim, Kapuas, Ketapang, Sambas, and Sanggau.
The declaration was witnessed by representatives of the Central and Provincial Governments, including Ismail Hasani (Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia), Efrida Herawati Siregar (Pancasila Ideology Development Agency/BPIP), Adib Abdushomad (Center for Religious Harmony, Ministry of Religious Affairs), Hartono (Directorate General of Politics and General Government, Ministry of Home Affairs), Manto (West Kalimantan Provincial National Unity and Politics Agency/Kesbangpol), as well as civil society organizations including SETARA Institute, the Association of Indonesian Municipal Governments (APEKSI), JAKATARUB, PB JAI, SEJUK, and others.
In addition, several key lessons emerged from the sharing sessions conducted by participating cities and regencies, as follows.
1. Strengthening the ecosystem of tolerance through progressive legal frameworks. Several local governments have institutionalized tolerance through progressive legal instruments. The cities of Mojokerto, Salatiga, Tegal, and Semarang have enacted regulations specifically addressing tolerance, including Regional Regulations (Peraturan Daerah/Perda), despite the lengthy legislative processes and political dynamics involved.
2. Innovative and collaborative programs for promoting tolerance. Several municipalities have designed innovative and collaborative initiatives to strengthen tolerance. For example, Singkawang has implemented grassroots campaigns promoting tolerance at the village level through partnerships with youth organizations. Mimika Regency has strengthened social harmony among indigenous communities by reinforcing the role of the Forum for Religious Harmony (FKUB), developing a public complaint-based conflict mitigation platform, and allocating substantial funding for interfaith dialogue.
Kediri integrates education and cultural initiatives through interfaith parades, moderation schools, and Kampung Pancasila (Pancasila Villages). Meanwhile, Ciamis Regency has introduced inclusive policies, including the temporary use of buildings as places of worship for minority religious communities, various interfaith programs, and affirmative public services for non-Muslim minority residents, who comprise only around one percent of the local population. Bekasi City has expanded its tolerance agenda through Kampung Moderasi (Moderation Villages), cultural festivals, and digital peace campaigns targeting young people.
3. Contextual approaches to strengthening resilience and tolerance. Different regions have adopted context-specific approaches to building social resilience and strengthening tolerance. Sukabumi has emphasized digital literacy following several religion-related incidents by strengthening public education to prevent misinformation and hate speech that could trigger conflict. Muara Enim Regency has demonstrated strong commitment by conducting tolerance self-assessments and incorporating tolerance into its key performance indicators, supported by the local cultural philosophy of Serasan Sekundang, which promotes social harmony. Bogor City has undergone significant transformation by comprehensively mapping long-standing intolerance issues—including the GKI Yasmin, Shia, and Ahmadiyah cases—and addressing them through government coordination, strengthened regulations, the Forum for Religious Harmony (FKUB), and increased community participation. From civil society, Bandung, through JAKATARUB, has demonstrated that resilience in tolerance can also emerge from citizen-led initiatives, sustained interfaith dialogue, and inclusive community spaces.
4. Continuing challenges. Despite encouraging progress, challenges remain in the form of identity politics, digital misinformation, the legacy of past conflicts, and unresolved historical cases of intolerance. Sukabumi continues to face risks of escalation fueled by online provocation. Bogor has had to rebuild public trust after years of national and international scrutiny. Bandung continues to navigate identity-based political dynamics, while Muara Enim faces the challenge of ensuring that commitments to tolerance remain consistent across successive political administrations.
5. The strategic role of young people. Several regions continue to face stereotypes against minority groups, differing levels of tolerance across generations, and biases among certain religious leaders influenced by identity politics. In this context, young people play a strategic role by supporting local tolerance policies through active participation in government programs and internship opportunities. These experiences demonstrate that the sustainability of tolerance initiatives depends not only on government policies but also on religious literacy, youth engagement, and the strengthening of inclusive dialogue to preserve social cohesion across diverse communities.
The lessons emerging from the Tolerant Cities Conference reaffirm that tolerance and inclusion do not develop overnight. A tolerant society is built gradually through sustained collaboration between government institutions and civil society, strengthened by continuous dialogue and long-term commitment rooted in three pillars of leadership: political leadership, bureaucratic leadership, and community leadership.
As a follow-up to the Joint Declaration adopted during the 2025 Tolerant Cities Conference, participating regional leaders and delegates agreed to pursue the following commitments:
First, to formulate local legal instruments that accelerate the promotion of tolerance.
Second, to expand programs that strengthen tolerance within Indonesia’s pluralistic society and diverse communities.
Third, to enhance collaborative efforts with communities in advancing tolerance and reinforcing Indonesia’s diversity.
Contact Persons
- Sayyidatul Insiyah – Research Manager, SETARA Institute
- Halili Hasan – Executive Director, SETARA Institute