Ombudsman proposes collaborative framework in Human Rights Bill

The Indonesian Ombudsman (ORI) has provided input on 14 articles of the Draft Law on Human Rights (RUU HAM) and proposed incorporating a normative basis for collaboration between human rights implementers, national human rights institutions, and public service oversight bodies. During a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Human Rights in Jakarta on Thursday (25/6), ORI Vice Chairman Rahmadi Indra Tektona stated that ORI, as a state institution overseeing public services, wants to ensure that public services are treated as a tangible space for the fulfilment of human rights. “This approach is important because many human rights issues arise as a failure of public service,” Rahmadi said, as quoted from a confirmed statement in Jakarta on Friday. He further stated that public service and the fulfilment of human rights intersect in many ways, expressing hope that the RUU HAM will produce a law involving multiple parties. He also expressed hope for increased future collaboration between the Indonesian Ombudsman and the Ministry of Human Rights, noting that ORI has much to learn about human rights, particularly in relation to public services. Echoing this sentiment, Deputy Minister of Human Rights Mugiyanto Sipin said that much of the Ombudsman’s work overlaps with the Ministry of Human Rights. He expressed gratitude for the input provided regarding the revision of the Human Rights Law, noting that the current regulations need updating and have been included in the National Legislation Programme (Prolegnas) at the House of Representatives (DPR). “Hopefully, in the future, the Indonesian Ombudsman and the Ministry of Human Rights will communicate more intensively,” he said. The government and the DPR are targeting the completion of the revision of Law Number 39 of 1999 on Human Rights by 2026. The Ministry of Human Rights is currently in the drafting stage and is holding national public consultations to gather input. The government continues to intensify socialisation efforts and receive input from various regions and stakeholders, including the Ombudsman.