Pigai Submits Draft Indigenous Communities Bill to Parliament, Targets Completion This Year

Minister for Human Rights Natalius Pigai has submitted a draft bill on Indigenous Communities to the Legislation Body (Baleg) of the House of Representatives (DPR). During the handover, input from the Ministry of Human Rights was also discussed.

“We met with the leadership of Baleg, the Legislation Body of the Republic of Indonesia, and its members, including the chair of the working committee, to present the draft bill on Indigenous Communities,” Pigai said at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday (19/2/2026).

Pigai stated that the Indigenous Communities Bill is targeted for completion this year. He said he would continue to facilitate public involvement in the deliberation of the legislation.

“This year. It is targeted for completion this year. So we are facilitating efforts, and once there is meaningful participation, I am confident they will be open. We also conveyed that the process should be transparent and open so that all communities can be present,” he said.

On the occasion, Pigai called for the recognition of the existence of indigenous communities. He also expressed hope that the law would accommodate all parties.

“This law must also affirm — it must affirm that the contents of this law regulate both customary law communities and traditional communities, so that everyone is accommodated,” he said.

“So that indigenous communities become masters in their own land, and indigenous communities can make their own decisions,” he added.