2) Military members allegedly kill two Papuans in Pegunungan Bintang – Military officials claim victims were TPNPB members
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1) Fathers as champions: Breaking gender barriers for immunization in Papua
New approach supports fathers to redefine caregiving responsibilities
UNICEF Indonesia
15 January 2025
On a quiet afternoon in the hills of Pegunungan Arfak Regency, West Papua, David Saiba stands before a group of fathers gathered in the hall of Simon Hungku Church. A respected community figure and local facilitator, David is here to talk about something that many of these men have never considered their responsibility: immunization.
“I used to think health decisions were not something for fathers like me,” David begins, his voice steady and passionate. “But I’ve learned that as fathers, we have a critical role in protecting our children. It’s not just about providing—it’s about being there for their health and future.”
David’s work in Papua is part of a new effort by UNICEF to address gender barriers to immunization that have posed a longstanding public health challenge. In Indonesia, traditional norms often assign caregiving responsibilities largely to mothers, leaving fathers disengaged from critical decisions about their children’s health.
Global research shows a strong link between gender inequality and low immunization rates. Likewise, a gender analysis on barriers to vaccination by UNICEF in 2024 outlines how deeply engrained gender norms and power imbalances shape immunization patterns, putting a disproportionate burden on women and girls as both caregivers and patients.
To address these challenges, the study recommends specific strategies, including actively engaging men and boys in vaccination advocacy, collaborating with religious and community leaders to dispel misconceptions, adopting gender-responsive policies and strengthening health worker training to ensure inclusive, respectful and equitable care.
Father Champion Groups: A new approach
In Papua, where immunization rates are consistently low, UNICEF has partnered with community leaders and health professionals to create Father Champion Groups. These groups educate fathers on the significance of immunization, effective communication and the concept of shared caregiving responsibilities within families.
“Mothers are often willing to have their children immunized, but they say they can’t do it because their husbands won’t allow it,” says Midwife Sarce Melphy, who works closely with families in Papua. “Decisions by fathers influence mothers, so their involvement is crucial.”
Father Champion Group sessions are designed to resonate with participants. Facilitators use storytelling, role-playing and songs to simplify complex health topics. Interactive discussions create a sense of camaraderie, encouraging fathers to open up about their challenges and reflect on their roles in their children’s lives.
Health workers and facilitators strategically connect with fathers’ groups by tapping into the influence of religion. Fathers’ group sessions are often held after church meetings, creating a comfortable and familiar environment that encourages open discussion.
“Most parents spend their days farming, so their daily activities are focused on the fields. Children's health often doesn't get much attention until they are seriously ill, at which point they are taken to the community health center or hospital,” David says. “The training for fathers helps them understand why immunization is important and gives them the tools to actively support their children’s health.”
Midwife Sarce sees great potential in this approach.
The initiative is already making an impact. Fathers who once viewed caregiving as a mother’s responsibility are now taking more active roles. Some accompany their wives to vaccination clinics, while others ensure their children’s immunization schedules are followed at home.
“We’re seeing more fathers at clinics now,” says Sarce. “Their involvement is encouraging other families to prioritize immunization.”
Building Stronger Communities
The Father Champion Groups are not just changing individual behaviour—they are driving community-wide transformation. Some members work alongside health workers to address myths and misconceptions about vaccines. Through house visits and community meetings, they reach hesitant parents, creating a ripple effect of awareness.
Though still in its early stages, the programme has significant potential. After six months of implementation, UNICEF will present the outcomes to Indonesia’s Ministry of Health, with the goal of expanding it to other regions. UNICEF’s aim is to integrate gender-responsive immunization strategies into national healthcare policies to ensure long-term sustainability.
“When fathers play an active role in their children's health, it allows them to access routine and timely health services,” explains Firmansyah Kamummu, a UNICEF Health Officer based in Papua. “This initiative is about more than vaccines. It’s about breaking gender barriers to create healthier families and stronger communities."
Watch the full story
2) Military members allegedly kill two Papuans in Pegunungan Bintang – Military officials claim victims were TPNPB members
Bodies of Mr Methodius Uropmabin, 28, and Mr Nerius Oktemka,25
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Author: Júlia Fortuny
“West Papua Is Not an Empty Land”
This article is based on insights shared by Dorthea Wabiser, a young Indigenous researcher at Yayasan Pusaka Bentala Rakyat (PUSAKA), who I had the privilege of speaking with about her work defending the rights of Indigenous communities in West Papua and the environmental challenges they face. Throughout the article, you’ll find Dorthea’s personal experiences and perspectives as she leads the fight for her people’s ancestral lands.
West Papua, a region of immense cultural diversity and breathtaking natural beauty, is also home to deep-rooted challenges: ongoing human rights violations, environmental degradation, and a long legacy of colonial and governmental oppression. Few people illustrate this tension more poignantly than Ms. Dorthea Wabiser, a young Indigenous researcher at Yayasan Pusaka Bentala Rakyat—an Indonesian civil society organisation committed to defending Indigenous peoples’ rights and the environment.
Today, as the Indonesian government proposes opening more than two million hectares for the Merauke Food and Energy Development project, the urgency of Dorthea’s work—and that of her organisation—has never been clearer.
A Childhood Shaped by Activism
Born and raised in Jayapura, West Papua, Dorthea’s parents were both activists deeply involved in fighting against human rights violations in different regions of Indonesia. Her father, originally from Byak Island and now based in Timika, has long advocated for communities impacted by the waste of Freeport mining operations in the region where he now lives. Her mother, hailing from the Yali tribe of the Papuan Highlands, has fought passionately for women’s rights and against human rights violations derived from the Independence movement. Growing up surrounded by stories of injustice and witnessing them firsthand set Dorthea on a path of activism early on.
“Living under oppression in West Papua, you feel how they try to shut your voices when you want to say something, you see every day the human rights violations, you experience the racism, the discrimination” she recalls, pointing out that this discrimination was also present when she moved from Jayapura to Bandung, in Java, for school, where she also felt the prejudice as a West Papuan.
Growing up in an activist family inspired Dorthea to follow a similar path, leading her to study International Relations and write her thesis on conflict resolution in West Papua. But her passion for activism and human rights advocacy began even earlier. During her school years, Dorthea created YouTube videos analysing current events and highlighting social injustices in West Papua. One of these videos eventually connected her with Yayasan Pusaka Bentala Rakyat, the civil society organisation where she now works.
PUSAKA’s mission to protect Indigenous peoples’ rights and the environment resonated with Dorthea’s core values. After briefly considering a job offer from a large gas company, she realised it conflicted with her principles. “It’s against my morals,” she explains. Seeking a path that resonated with her beliefs, she was drawn to PUSAKA, as its values reflected not only her own but also the lessons she observed through her parents’ work. Joining the organisation felt like a meaningful step toward fulfilling her purpose.
Protecting Indigenous Rights and Cultures in Southern West Papua
Currently based in Jakarta, where PUSAKA’s head office is located, Dorthea works as a researcher, documenting Indigenous peoples’ knowledge and the communities’ resilience confronting the climate crisis in West Papua. She specifically focuses on protecting the rights of Indigenous peoples in the southern part of the region, covering Merauke, Boven Digoel, and Mappi, where large-scale deforestation poses a serious threat. An example of this is a new 2-million-hectare food and energy project in an area of 4-million-hectare, recently declared a National Strategic Project (PSN). Backed by the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Agriculture, this initiative involves extensive land clearing for rice fields, sugarcane and bioethanol plantation, activities that violate ancestral territories.
PUSAKA’s broader work involves research, advocacy, and capacity building to help local communities understand their legal rights and create security awareness, document environmental damage, and secure formal recognition of customary lands. Dorthea also supports communities’ efforts to“reconnect with nature”, challenging what she describes as the ways capitalism has weakened the relationship between Papuans and their environment.
Dorthea’s connection to the communities she works with is rooted in a deep emotional attachment to the land and its people. Raised in an Indigenous family, she was taught the value of knowledge transfer by her parents and grandparents. Emphasising the importance of preserving traditional knowledge, she recalls family gatherings at her grandparents’ home: “Every time we gather together in their home, my grandfather always tells stories about our culture”.
When she first entered the southern regions of West Papua for her work, she felt an immediate bond with the local people. “I always felt safe and happy there; it was like healing,” she reflects. Through her research, Dorthea has become part of the communities she helps, learning their languages and cultures as she documents their traditional knowledge. Her relationship with the people is one of mutual trust and respect. “When I enter a new community, I know these are my people,” she says. “Even though we come from different backgrounds, they take care of me, and I feel safe.“
Challenging the “Empty Land” Narrative: Affirming the Rights and Presence of Indigenous Communities in West Papua
One of the core challenges Dorthea and PUSAKA confront is the government’s narrative that frames Papua as an “empty land”, void of people or culture. This false narrative aims to justify large-scale exploitation of the region’s resources, ignoring the thriving Indigenous communities who have lived on the land for centuries. In response, Papuan civil society organisations and grassroots communities launched the campaign “West Papua Is Not an Empty Land,” with support from organisations like PUSAKA. The campaign aims to highlight the presence of thriving Indigenous communities with distinct cultures, languages, and ancestral ties to these forests. For this, Dorthea has engaged in research in the affected villages to document and showcase the richness of the land. This includes crafting an inventory of local animals and plants meticulously recorded in the tribe’s original languages, as well as in Indonesian and Latin. Through this work, she highlights the vibrant life, human culture and history that the government’s “empty land” narrative tries to erase.
Reflecting on her work, Dorthea expresses both pride and sadness: pride in seeing Papuan communities stand together to protect their lands, and sadness when fellow environmental defenders declare there is little more they can do. For her, these collective efforts serve as a powerful reminder that West Papuans are anything but powerless, they continue to defend their forests, uphold their cultural heritage, and seek support to ensure their voices are heard and their rights are respected.
Hope in the Face of Intimidation
Working in West Papua often means confronting powerful interests and a militarised state presence. In addition to police or soldiers guiding bulldozers onto ancestral lands, the Indonesian National Military (TNI) recently formed new infantry battalions in five Papuan regions, purportedly to bolster “food security.” However, local communities worry that this expanding military footprint deepens fears of human rights violations and makes it harder for communities to voice objections or block operations.
Many Indigenous residents find themselves presented with large-scale projects without comprehensive consultation or transparent information, undermining their rights as stipulated by national and international standards. The principle of Free, Prior and Informed consent, for example, requires that Indigenous peoples are fully informed and freely able to decide whether to agree to any proposed plans before they are implemented. Yet, despite these ongoing challenges and the climate of fear they create, Dorthea remains resolute and even optimistic in her mission.
She speaks of the emotional burden—losing community leaders who have fought so long for formal recognition and seeing beloved forests razed for profit—but also of the unity and resilience that keep her going. “Being an environmental and human-rights defender is how I cope,” she says. “Seeing these cases every day, seeing how oppressed we are, makes me want to do something. Every time I feel stuck, I search for new strategies, new people to collaborate with.”
Drawing on privileges that many affected communities do not share, such as knowing multiple languages, having access to books and research materials, and being able to build networks with diverse allies, Dorthea continually devises new strategies to push for justice. She is aware that partnerships can open doors to legal, social and international support mechanisms, allowing her to counter setbacks with fresh ideas and renewed energy. “I don’t feel hopeless because I always find, and thankfully have access, to new ways and strategies. So when I feel stuck, I know that there are a lot of different ways and a lot of friends who would help us in finding justice for this conflict”.
Her recent trip to the Netherlands to screen a documentary on the Papuan tribe Afsya from South Sorong struggle exemplifies this approach. Reaching out to academics, youth groups, and other activists abroad, she is building international coalitions that amplify Papuan voices. With every door she knocks on, Dorthea finds new paths to share West Papua’s story—evidence, she believes, that hope endures and that transformative change can still be achieved through collaboration and perseverance.
A Call for Solidarity!
Dorthea’s story is a testament to the strength of those who refuse to stay silent in the face of oppression. Her work is a reminder that the forests of West Papua are more than just trees—they are the lifeblood of communities, homes filled with history, culture, and resilience. As these lands face unprecedented threats, her call for action resonates beyond borders.
For Dorthea, raising awareness internationally is urgent. She hopes readers around the world will recognise that West Papua’s forests are among the planet’s “lungs”—vital to combating climate change—and that Indigenous stewardship of these environments benefits everyone. She encourages supporters to sign petitions, contact government representatives, and share the “West Papua Is Not an Empty Land” message widely. The struggle to protect West Papua’s forests and people is not just a local issue but a global one. By standing with Dorthea and her community, we stand for a future where Indigenous rights and environmental sustainability are respected and celebrated.
If you want to stand with Dorthea and support the fight to protect over 2 million hectares of Malind and Yei customary forests from the Merauke National Strategic Project, please consider signing PUSAKA’s petition: Seizing 2 Million Malind & Yei Customary Forests, President Prabowo Stops Merauke PSN.
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