Commission XIII Accelerates Discussion of Witness and Victim Protection Bill as Government Submits DIM
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Commission XIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) is accelerating the discussion of the Draft Law on Witness and Victim Protection (RUU PSDK) following the submission of the problem inventory list (DIM) by the government.
The first-level discussion of the RUU PSDK began on Monday in a working meeting held by Commission XIII of the DPR RI with the Ministry of Law, representing the government, at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta.
Chairman of Commission XIII DPR, Willy Aditya, explained that his side and the government will conduct consolidation this week to discuss notes on the DIM, before the discussion continues next week.
“On Wednesday (1/4) and Thursday (2/4), we will consolidate. Insyaallah, we will complete it in one week and together agree that this law will be approved in the plenary session during this session period. Agreed?” he said, which was answered in agreement by the meeting participants present.
According to Willy, after the submission of the DIM by the government, the next stage is the discussion of all materials in the RUU, followed by the formation of a working committee (panja).
The Draft Law on the Second Amendment to Law Number 13 of 2006 on Witness and Victim Protection is a proposal from Commission XIII that was approved as a DPR RI initiative in the plenary meeting on 8 December 2025.
Deputy Chairman of Commission XIII DPR RI, Dewi Asmara, explained that in its preparation, the commission has conducted a series of activities to absorb aspirations, including hearings with academics, civil society, and the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK).
According to her, the RUU PSDK affirms that the state is obliged to ensure adequate protection for witnesses and victims, including reporters, informants, and experts, because their lives are threatened.
“The current protection framework does not fully address field needs, so a re-regulation is necessary,” said Dewi.
In agreement, Deputy Minister of Law Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej stated that the state is obliged to provide protection to witnesses and victims to guarantee a sense of security and access to justice in the criminal justice process.
However, according to Eddy, his familiar name, after more than 20 years in effect, the PSDK Law still faces various limitations, both in normative aspects, institutional matters, and implementation.
“In line with the development of national law, the criminal justice system shows a shift in approach from one oriented towards perpetrators to one more oriented towards witnesses and victims,” he said.
That shift, Eddy continued, is in line with the development of restorative and rehabilitative justice approaches that place witnesses and victims as subjects entitled to protection and recovery, including for vulnerable groups.
Therefore, the government views that the RUU PSDK currently being drafted is present to perfect the regulations in order to provide maximum protection for witnesses and victims of criminal acts.