KuPP urges stronger monitoring access in correctional facilities

The Cooperation Working Group for the Prevention of Torture (KuPP) is pushing for stronger monitoring access in correctional facilities as part of efforts to reinforce the national system for preventing torture and protecting human rights. Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia member Maneger Nasution, speaking during an online session on Friday, said KuPP routinely monitors locations at risk of torture, including correctional facilities, ahead of the International Day Against Torture. He noted that one such monitoring visit was conducted at Cibinong Prison in West Java after the team submitted a notification letter and coordinated with relevant parties regarding the planned visit. Maneger explained that during the visit on 18 June 2026, the team waited for more than two hours and ultimately only gained access to two areas: the kitchen and the work guidance room. “Because of that, we certainly regret it. In this day and age, such incidents still occur,” he said. He expressed hope that coordination and openness in carrying out monitoring functions could be continuously improved so that similar activities run more effectively in the future. “Therefore, we hope that incidents like this will not be repeated in the future,” he stated. Maneger also appreciated the government’s commitment, including a statement by the Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections, who emphasised the importance of state institutions being open to oversight functions as part of strengthening governance. According to him, the monitoring conducted by KuPP aims to identify potential occurrences of torture while formulating policy and service improvement recommendations for detention facilities. From the Ombudsman’s perspective, he added, preventing maladministration is a crucial part of strengthening the protection of citizens’ rights. “In the Ombudsman’s context, maladministration is a gateway to torture, so we want to ensure there is no maladministration,” he said. KuPP is a collaborative forum of six state institutions: the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK), the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), the National Commission on Disabilities (KND), and the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia, which jointly carry out monitoring, formulate recommendations, and strengthen the national mechanism for preventing torture.