Minister asserts that RUU HAM advisory team will not determine an individual's status

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Human Rights Natalius Pigai has emphasised that the advisory team in the draft revision of the Human Rights Law will not determine an individual’s status as an activist or human rights defender.

“The circulating title is misleading and could create the wrong perception. I am actually ensuring maximum protection for human rights defenders so that they cannot be criminalised,” Pigai told reporters in Jakarta on Thursday.

This clarification relates to a previous news headline on the issue that stated “Status of activist or human rights defender determined by government-formed advisory team”.

Pigai stressed that the information was inaccurate and could lead to misunderstandings about the substance of the policy being prepared by the government.

According to him, the existence of the advisory team in the proposed legislation is not to restrict or unilaterally determine status, but to ensure that protection is provided appropriately to those genuinely performing human rights defence functions.

He explained that the approach used is based on the context of actions, not individual labels, so assessments are made on the defence activities in a particular incident.

“If someone defends the little people, the weak who are fighting for justice, then they happen to be a human rights defender, and are designated as such,” he said.

Pigai added that this mechanism is important to prevent the misuse of claims as human rights activists by parties with personal or commercial interests.

With this scheme, legal protection, including immunity, is only given to parties who genuinely defend public interests, especially vulnerable groups.

This step, he continued, is part of the government’s efforts to strengthen the human rights protection system while preventing the criminalisation of human rights defenders.

The revision of the Human Rights Law being prepared also includes several other enhancements, including guarantees that human rights defenders cannot be prosecuted when carrying out humanitarian tasks.

The bill has been drafted by the Ministry of Human Rights and is planned to be submitted soon to the House of Representatives for further discussion.