Makassar, 20 November 2024
The protection and fulfillment of the rights of vulnerable groups in South Sulawesi remain far from optimal and continue to be an issue that requires sustained advocacy. To date, the channels through which vulnerable communities can communicate their aspirations to the government remain limited, resulting in their needs and concerns not being adequately represented in public policymaking.
At the same time, strategic communication as an approach to conveying public aspirations has not yet been fully optimized. The ability to conduct inclusive campaigns and advocate for impactful public policies is a crucial pillar in ensuring that the issues affecting vulnerable groups are heard, considered, and incorporated into regional development.
In response to this need, SETARA Institute organized the workshop “Strategic Communication for Enhancing the Participation of Vulnerable Groups in Democracy” in Makassar over two days, 19–20 November 2024. The workshop brought together members of the ASPIRASI South Sulawesi Coalition and several civil society organizations (CSOs) working on issues affecting vulnerable groups, including women, persons with disabilities, religious and belief minorities, indigenous peoples, and gender-diverse communities.
The workshop was specifically designed to equip participants with practical skills in producing digital campaign content and preparing policy papers as advocacy tools for public engagement and policy advocacy directed toward government institutions. In addition, the workshop served as a consolidation forum ahead of the Tudang Sipulung event entitled “Designing an Inclusive Democracy: Strengthening the Voices of Vulnerable Groups in South Sulawesi,” scheduled for 21 November 2024. The event would bring together candidates for Governor of South Sulawesi, the ASPIRASI South Sulawesi Coalition, and members of the public in an open dialogue.
The “Strategic Communication for Enhancing the Participation of Vulnerable Groups in Democracy” workshop also produced tangible outcomes, including four campaign materials and a draft policy paper outlining proposed measures to strengthen the government’s commitment to protecting and fulfilling the rights of vulnerable groups. The recommendations include:
- The Government should commit to protecting and fulfilling the rights of indigenous peoples by accelerating the development of policies that recognize indigenous communities and safeguard their rights to natural resources.
- The Government should ensure the availability of accessible and inclusive facilities and infrastructure for persons with disabilities during the 2024 Regional Head Elections (Pilkada).
- The Government should strengthen education, public understanding, and awareness of gender equality within educational institutions, government agencies, and other public institutions.
- The Government should commit to eliminating discriminatory policies that restrict the rights of vulnerable groups.
These policy recommendations, developed by workshop participants, are intended to be presented directly to the candidates for Governor of South Sulawesi during the Tudang Sipulung event. In this way, issues affecting vulnerable groups will not merely remain topics of public discussion, but will also become priorities heard and considered by the gubernatorial candidates for integration into regional development programs once elected.
Media Contacts:
Sayyidatul Insiyah, Researcher SETARA Institute
Nasrum, ASPIRASI Coalition