Erna is the former UN Special Ambassador for MDGs in the Asia Pacific (2003-2007); Indonesian Minister of Human Settlements and Regional Development (1999-2001), and President of the Consumers International (1991-1997). She was a member of the Commission on Developing Countries and Global Changes (1990-1992), Commission on Legal Empowerment of the Poor (2006-2009), Earth Charter Commission (1997-2014) and Commission on Global Security, Justice & Governance (2014-2015).