Deputy Minister for Human Rights Confirms Papuan Aspirations Key to Human Rights Law Revision
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Deputy Minister for Human Rights Mugiyanto has confirmed that Papuan community aspirations will be a key part of revising Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights.
He made the statement during a Public Consultation on the Human Rights Law Revision in Jayapura on Saturday, 30 May 2026.
He noted that while not all technical issues can be included in the substantive law, all aspirations raised during the forum will be important considerations for the final draft.
“This spirit aligns closely with the outcomes of the recent Strategic Papua Analysis (APS) conference, where the forum’s proposals will provide valuable input for the Human Rights Law revision,” Mugiyanto said in a statement on Saturday.
Mugiyanto added that the presence of community leaders is crucial to ensure regulations address local needs. He aims to finalise the revision this year.
“We target the law revision to be discussed and enacted this year, as it is already included in the National Legislative Program (Prolegnas),” he said.
The current Human Rights Law, in effect for nearly 27 years, has mainly focused on regulating human rights oversight bodies in the context of past democratic transitions.
Therefore, the ongoing revision aims to create an umbrella law that strengthens the national human rights protection ecosystem.
“This law cannot exceed those boundaries or address technical matters. Detailed provisions will be regulated through secondary legislation, such as Government Regulations (PP),” he stressed.
However, he warned that effective legal norms require strong implementation institutions and a healthy legal culture.
“Norms cannot function in isolation; they need institutions to implement them. The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) cannot operate at full capacity without executive support,” he explained.
Examples include personal data protection, the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), prohibiting active military and police personnel from serving as Komnas HAM commissioners to maintain institutional independence, and plans to establish an Endowment Fund for Strengthening Human Rights and Democracy to support humanitarian programmes and civil society strengthening in Indonesia.