Government prepares strong regulations to protect human rights activists
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government is preparing regulations to strengthen protection for human rights (HAM) activists from the risks of criminalisation and violence, emphasising the importance of a strong legal basis through legislation.
Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai said the move is driven by the vulnerability of activists in carrying out advocacy work, particularly when defending vulnerable groups.
“Protection for human rights activists is important because they are highly vulnerable to criminalisation or violence. Therefore, the first thing is to express the desire for protection for human rights activists through regulations,” he stated in an exclusive interview with ANTARA in Jakarta on Wednesday.
He explained that the government has actually prepared a draft ministerial regulation (Permen), but its implementation is awaiting the enactment of the law as the primary legal basis to make it stronger and harder to challenge.
“The draft for the Permen has been completed at the Ministry of HAM. But we are waiting for the approval of the revision to the Human Rights Law No 39/1999, because it must first be stipulated in the Human Rights Law, namely protection for human rights activists,” he said.
Therefore, the government is choosing to ensure the legitimacy of the regulations from the outset.
“If it’s just a Permen, it won’t be strong enough. It must have a strong legal foundation, namely the law, and we are waiting for that,” he stated.
He added that the draft revision of the law has been submitted to the DPR and is hoped to be approved soon, so that all protection instruments can be immediately implemented.
“Therefore, this month we have also submitted the draft revision of the Human Rights Law to the DPR. I am confident that within 1-2 months they will decide quickly,” he said.
“Once approved by the DPR, at the same time, all follow-up regulations desired under that law will be issued as soon as possible,” Pigai stated.
In addition, the regulations will also govern more operational protection mechanisms, including ensuring that activists acting as human rights defenders cannot be criminalised in legal processes.
“They cannot be criminalised, all of them. So, any activist cannot be criminalised after the law revision is enacted,” he said.
This step, he added, is expected to form the foundation for strengthening a more comprehensive human rights protection system and providing legal certainty for human rights defenders in Indonesia.