Justice Minister: Witness and Victim Protection Bill Emphasises Law Oriented Towards Witnesses and Victims
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Law and Human Rights Minister Supratman Andi Agtas stated that the Witness and Victim Protection Bill (RUU PSDK) emphasises a legal approach oriented towards witnesses and victims.
The statement was delivered by the Minister as the government’s final opinion on the RUU PSDK during the 17th Plenary Session of the DPR RI for the IV Session Period of 2025–2026 at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday.
“This law complements criminal procedure law by positioning witnesses and victims as subjects equal to perpetrators and affirming a paradigm shift from being oriented solely towards perpetrators to also towards witnesses and victims,” he said.
He stated that, in accordance with the constitutional mandate, the state is obliged to provide protection to witnesses and victims as part of fulfilling human rights. According to him, this is to ensure a sense of security and access to justice in the criminal trial process.
The Minister said that such protection has in fact been regulated in previous PSDK laws, namely Law No. 13 of 2006 and Law No. 31 of 2014. However, both are deemed not fully responsive to legal developments.
“The restorative and rehabilitative justice approach has not been supported by effective regulations, so testimonies are often given under pressure,” Supratman said.
Therefore, the government views the need to amend the PSDK laws, including one of them by strengthening the role of the Witness and Victim Protection Agency.
The 17th Plenary Session of the DPR RI for the IV Session Period of 2025–2026 approved the Witness and Victim Protection Bill (RUU PSDK) to be enacted as law.
“Shall the Witness and Victim Protection Bill be approved to be enacted as law? Agreed?” said DPR RI Speaker Puan Maharani in Senayan, Jakarta, on Tuesday, which was answered “agreed” by the session participants.
The RUU PSDK was previously finalised in the first-level discussion during a working meeting held by Commission XIII of the DPR RI on Monday (13/4).
Deputy Chairman of Commission XIII of the DPR RI Andreas Hugo Pareira explained that the RUU PSDK consists of 12 chapters and 78 articles that contain strengthening of protection for witnesses and victims, including the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK).
Through this bill, the LPSK is established as a state institution that is independent and free from any power influence. In addition, the LPSK is also strengthened with the establishment of regional representatives carried out according to needs.
On the other hand, this bill expands protection for subjects in the criminal justice process, namely not only for witnesses and/or victims, but also for witness-perpetrators, reporters, informants and/or experts who have previously also faced threats.