National Human Rights Commission Denies Involvement in Human Rights Bill Drafting

JAKARTA - The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) stated it was never involved in drafting the Human Rights Bill (RUU HAM). “Komnas HAM firmly denied the claim, stating it was not involved at all in drafting the Human Rights Bill since the discussion stage,” said Commission Chair Anis Hidayah in a written statement on Tuesday (26 May 2026). Anis said Komnas HAM had difficulty obtaining the initial draft of the Human Rights Bill, which did not reflect the Commission’s inputs. “The disregard for Komnas HAM undermines the Paris Principles — international standards governing national human rights institutions — which require such bodies to have broad mandates, institutional independence, and full freedom to operate without political interference,” she said. Anis noted that Komnas HAM has consistently achieved the highest accreditation from the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) for at least the past decade. Previously, Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai stated that the Human Rights Law revision would not weaken Komnas HAM’s functions. Conversely, the revisions would strengthen Komnas HAM by expanding its authority, including investigative powers, power to summon, authority to prosecute, submitting amicus curiae in court, and issuing binding recommendations. Through the Human Rights Law revision, he said Komnas HAM’s authority would be expanded to conduct investigations. This would establish ad hoc investigators to handle alleged human rights violations, he added. He further explained that Komnas HAM’s recommendations would become binding, unlike the current Human Rights Law provisions.