Deputy Minister of Social Affairs Hopes International Private Law Bill Will Strengthen Protection of Indonesian Children Abroad
Deputy Minister of Social Affairs Agus Jabo Priyono emphasised that a law on International Private Law (IPL) is essential for protecting the rights of Indonesian citizens (WNI) who are children living overseas. Rising global mobility has increased cross-border practices of childcare, guardianship, and child adoption.
He made the remarks following a special committee consultation meeting of the Indonesian Parliament (DPR RI) concerning the discussion of the IPL bill at Nusantara I Building, DPR RI, Central Jakarta, today. The meeting was chaired by Special Committee Chair Martin D. Tumbelaka along with Deputy Chair Soedeson Tandra and attended by government representatives, including Minister of Law and Human Rights Supratman Andi Agtas, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arrmanatha Nasir, and Deputy Minister of Social Affairs Agus Jabo Priyono.
“We see real risks such as child abandonment, violence, and loss of identity and family relationships for our children abroad because of the limitations of the current domestic legal system,” stated Agus Jabo in a written statement, Wednesday (11 March 2026).
During the meeting, government representatives explained that the IPL bill was drafted to provide legal certainty in various civil relationships involving foreign elements, whilst also replacing outdated regulations that still refer to colonial-era rules.
At the meeting, eight DPR RI factions—namely the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, Golkar, Gerindra, NasDem, National Awakening Party, Prosperous Justice Party, National Mandate Party, and Democratic Party—presented their factional views and in principle agreed that the International Private Law bill should proceed to the next stage of discussion.
Agus Jabo explained that the Ministry of Social Affairs proposed regulations in Articles 32 through 36 of the IPL bill that address the substantive matters of childcare, guardianship, and child adoption in a cross-border context.
These provisions include legal certainty that childcare, guardianship, and child maintenance shall follow the law governing the personal status of the child. They mandate that Indonesian courts consider the best interests of the child in every cross-jurisdictional ruling and allow for temporary maintenance by the Ministry of Social Affairs if an Indonesian child abroad has no legitimate caregiver or guardian.
He cited the situation where an Indonesian child in the care of a foreign national is subsequently abandoned abroad and must stay in a local shelter, whilst the biological parents struggle to access or reclaim custody rights.
“The IPL bill is expected to close such legal loopholes so that protection for Indonesian children remains assured, including in situations involving cross-border jurisdiction. With this regulation in place, the legal status and fundamental rights of Indonesian children can remain protected wherever they are,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Democratic Party faction member of parliament Mangihut Sinaga stated that his faction supports the bill’s discussion, deeming it important for strengthening the national legal system in addressing various cross-border legal issues.
“The Golkar faction views the establishment of a law on International Private Law as necessary to provide legal certainty regarding civil relationships containing foreign elements and to strengthen Indonesia’s legal position,” Sinaga concluded.