The Habibie Democracy Forum is rooted in the spirit of “democracy without end” inherited from Prof. Dr.-Ing. B.J. Habibie. This spirit is founded on the belief that Indonesia can serve as an alternative model of democracy for the world, given its pluralistic society that continues to uphold unity. History records that Indonesia has experienced numerous democratic dynamics since successfully undergoing its transition to democracy in 1999 up to the present day.

Carrying this enduring commitment to uphold democracy, The Habibie Center established the Habibie Democracy Forum as a platform designed to facilitate dialogue among various stakeholders concerned with democracy and human rights in Indonesia. The forum aims to gather and unify ideas to improve the quality of democracy. By upholding the values of inclusivity and collaboration, the Habibie Democracy Forum serves as an accessible space for all segments of society—including political parties, civil society organizations, academics, the media, and youth groups—to promote future democratic consolidation.

Objective

The Habibie Democracy Forum aims to promote, protect, and strengthen the values, institutions, and practices of democracy in Indonesia. The forum focuses on key issues such as democratic governance, human rights, the rule of law, electoral processes, and public participation. Specifically, the Habibie Democracy Forum aspires to be a democratic space that promotes democratic values, strengthens democratic institutions, advances civic education, safeguards electoral integrity, and advocates for democratic policy reform.

In 2023, the Habibie Democracy Forum was held for the very first time.
Carrying the overarching theme “Expanding Civic Space for a Stronger Democracy in Indonesia and the Region,” the Habibie Democracy Forum 2023 took place on November 15–16, 2023, at Hotel Le Meridien Jakarta. It was officially opened by the 13th Vice President of Indonesia, Prof. Dr. (H.C.) K.H. Ma’ruf Amin, and the 10th and 12th Vice President of Indonesia, Dr. (H.C.) Drs. H. Muhammad Jusuf Kalla.

As a platform to respond to the growing global trend of shrinking democracy and human rights—particularly regarding freedom of expression, association, and assembly—the 2023 Habibie Democracy Forum successfully fostered discussions on several key and relevant issues in Indonesia. Topics included the 2024 General Election and the Prospects of Democracy in Indonesia; Reflections on Anti-Corruption Efforts in the Post-Reform Era; Advancing Democratic Governance for Fair Environmental and Natural Resource Management; Promoting Ethical Artificial Intelligence for an Integrity-Based Democracy; and Legal Reform to Expand Civic Space.

Several policy recommendations were formulated during the 2023 Habibie Democracy Forum. Among them were strengthening the role of civil society in advancing democratic values and practices based on Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution through the creation of meaningful political participation spaces that uphold inclusivity and collaboration; enhancing critical thinking, media literacy, and political literacy within civil society through participatory activities to sustain and develop democratic values; and accelerating the ratification of the Asset Confiscation Bill for perpetrators of corruption, optimizing the use of additional criminal penalties for restitution as regulated in the Anti-Corruption Law and the Anti-Money Laundering Law, as well as advancing the Procurement Bill to strengthen efforts and the effectiveness of anti-corruption initiatives in Indonesia.

About the Democracy Dialogue

The Democracy Dialogue is an integral part of the Habibie Democracy Forum, providing a space for meetings and discussions on democratic values and practices in Indonesia. The dialogue aims to serve as a forum for exchanging opinions, perspectives, and experiences, as well as a medium for advocacy and raising public awareness about democratic principles and practices.

The Democracy Dialogue is designed to be inclusive, involving representatives from government, parliament, non-governmental and civil society organizations, academia, the general public (including foreign participants), as well as students.

In 2024, the Democracy Dialogue will be held regularly from June to October leading up to the Habibie Democracy Forum. Each session will focus on specific themes related to democracy and the dynamics of the 2024 General Election, inclusive policymaking in democratic governance, and anti-corruption efforts. Through this, the Democracy Dialogue will serve as a space for exchanging ideas to achieve the broader goals of the Habibie Democracy Forum.