Behind the Struggle to Defend Migrant Workers, Anis Hidayah Faces Years of Terror and Intimidation

BEKASI, KOMPAS.com — Chair of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) Anis Hidayah (49) has revealed various threats she has faced while fighting for the rights of Indonesian migrant workers. According to Anis, threats against human rights (HAM) activists often arise because advocacy activities frequently clash with various interests, from human trafficking networks to large corporations. “Because what we face includes, for example, perpetrators of human trafficking crimes who involve state elements, as well as large corporations, and sometimes groups that intersect,” said Anis when contacted by Kompas.com via telephone on Monday (11/5/2026). One form of attack she has experienced is doxing and defamation on social media. “My social media was attacked by unknown people trying to discredit me when I raised private issues, including labelling me as a sex worker,” she said. “After I googled it, it turned out it was indeed doxing that widely spread claims of me being a call girl,” she added. In addition to digital attacks, Anis admitted to being followed by unknown individuals and experiencing intimidation at her workplace. “I faced criminalisation and defamation, but at that time I was helped by the Press Council and advocate friends, so I was eventually freed,” she stated. Despite facing various pressures, the woman from Bojonegoro, East Java, admitted that she has understood such risks since choosing the path of human rights defender. “From the beginning, I was aware there would be risks like this. The only concern is the safety of my family,” said Anis. According to Anis, the issue of migrant workers is not merely about labour, but also related to human trafficking practices and exploitation involving large networks.