ALLIANCE: “Advocating for Liberty, Inclusion, and Acceptance for all!” is an advocacy step based on collaborative work between several organizations. ALLIANCE is led by YIFoS Indonesia, working with Yayasan Satu Keadilan, who has experience in policy advocacy in West Java. In addition, ALLIANCE works with the KAMI ADA coalition; a LGBTIQ-led organisation based in the Bogor area. ALLIANCE focuses on advocating the P4S Regional Regulation ratified in Bogor City in December 2021. This regulation provides a legal basis for criminalizing LGBTIQ+ people.

The idea is to encourage the Bogor City government to change the content of the regulations through the Mayor’s initiative to submit a discussion (Nota Dinas) to the Bogor City Regional People’s Representative Assembly. The following is the theory of change from the ALLIANCE project: If civil society organizations, together with experts on human rights, law, and sexuality issues, can lobby the Mayor of Bogor and various civil society voices to urge the government to change the contents of the P4S regulation, the Mayor of Bogor will be encouraged to submit a discussion to the DPR -D at trial. ALLIANCE will then use this process to provide input at public hearings. To achieve the above changes, namely the change in the P4S script, several key activities must be carried out:

1. Drafting an alternative or substitute local regulation.
2. Hearings and lobbying key actors.
3. Public campaigning.
4. Capacity building for the LGBTIQ community.

In preparing for this, ALLIANCE has also prepared a mitigation plan and a referral mechanism for the safety of
the LGBTIQ community in Bogor.

The ALLIANCE initiative represents a concerted advocacy effort scheduled for implementation commencing December 2022. It is predicated on collaborative endeavors among multiple organizations, with YIFoS Indonesia assuming a leadership role in conjunction with the Yayasan Satu Keadilan, possessing extensive experience in policy advocacy within West Java. Additionally, ALLIANCE collaborates with the KAMI ADA Coalition, spearheaded by diverse gender and sexuality groups in the Bogor area and extending its influence throughout West Java. The primary focus of ALLIANCE lies in advocating for the amendment of Bogor City Regional Regulation Number 10 of 2021, addressing the Prevention and Management of Sexual Deviant Behavior (P4S), enacted in December 2021. Working with civil society, ALLIANCE fervently calls upon the government to reconsider the provisions outlined in the P4S Regional Regulation.  Regulation of Bogor City Number 10 of 2021 concerning the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Deviant Behavior (P4S) contains inaccuracies that may potentially lead to the criminalization of diverse gender and sexuality groups, particularly in Bogor City, and is likely to be adopted by other regions in West Java. Therefore, in undertaking advocacy efforts for this P4S regulation, the ALLIANCE Consortium collaborates with legal experts, sexologists, researchers, and academics. The outcomes include a List of Inventory Problems, Policy Brief, documents on the Impact of Discriminatory Legislation, and a Counter Academic Manuscript. The development of these documents consistently involves direct or indirect participation of diverse gender and sexuality groups to ensure awareness and solicitation of relevant input or opinions in line with on-the-ground conditions.

Furthermore, the ALLIANCE Consortium engages in activities to enhance the capacity and awareness of diverse gender and sexuality groups to mitigate the impacts of this P4S regulation. This includes involving neighboring areas such as Bogor Regency, Depok City, and Sukabumi Regency, which are indirectly affected due to their proximity to Bogor City. The SOGIESC Paralegal Training involves 20 individuals, with 3 of them allowed to participate in a 3-month Internship Program at LBH Aksi Keadilan Indonesia to implement the acquired knowledge and bring back results to their respective communities.  The impact of the advocacy efforts is reflected in the rejection of the Mayor’s Regulation, derived from the P4S regulation, by the Regional Office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights in West Java. This has prompted a reassessment of the P4S regulation to be transformed into a Regional Regulation on the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence or Anti-Sexual Violence, even though the review of the P4S regulation has not yet entered the Priority Legislation for the Region in 2024. Additionally, the Head of Legal and Human Rights Affairs in Bogor City, understanding the concerns of diverse gender and sexuality groups resulting from the P4S regulation, has been facilitated through public discussions, including Alma Wiranta S.H., M.H (Han), serving as the Head of Legal and Human Rights Affairs, as a guest speaker.

Yayasan Pesona Bumi Pasundan has decided to take a progressive step by establishing the Advocacy Division. This decision arises as a response to the deep awareness that diverse gender and sexuality groups are vulnerable and may become victims of inequality due to the existence of the P4S Regulation. This exceptional initiative serves as one of the concrete steps in mitigating the potential impacts experienced by these groups.  The Advocacy Division not only serves as an extension in protecting the rights of diverse gender and sexuality groups but also functions as an active agent of change in ensuring that local policies reflect the values of inclusivity and justice.  From the outset, Yayasan Pesona Bumi Pasundan has played a significant role in the advocacy process of the P4S Regulation through its involvement with ALLIANCE. Their hard work and commitment to protecting the rights of diverse gender and sexuality groups have sparked the idea of forming the Advocacy Division. The foundation recognizes that focused advocacy can provide better protection and open the door to positive change.

Another success story is, the support extended by the Head of Legal & Human Rights Affairs of Bogor City, an integral part of the Bogor City Government, is noteworthy. Courageously, the Head of Legal & Human Rights has expressed explicit support through the firm statement, “If there are gender and sexuality groups impacted by the P4S Regulation, they can contact me (Legal & Human Rights Division of Bogor City) for follow-up actions.”  This statement goes beyond mere words; it represents a tangible step towards creating a safer and more inclusive environment for gender and sexuality groups. During one year of project implementation, we have achieved various satisfying achievements. From the start of the project, we succeeded in implementing a very effective empowerment approach and tools. This approach not only helps guide the project team but also encourages active involvement from all parties involved. Well-integrated enablement tools have been the foundation of our success.  The project’s most surprising accomplishment is the significant change that has occurred over the past year. Our activities have created a real positive impact in improving people’s living conditions. Through close collaboration with various parties, this change involves active participation from local communities and stakeholders. The impact of our project is visible in improving the quality of life of the community, the extent of this achievement can be measured in significant numbers.