PKS Supports Proposal for Human Rights Defenders Protection Clause
Member of the House of Representatives Commission XIII, Yanuar Arif Wibowo, stated that the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction supports the proposal to expand protection for human rights defenders in the discussions on the Witness and Victim Protection Bill (RUU PSDK).
According to him, the RUU PSDK currently being discussed by the DPR’s Law and Human Rights Commission must not only cover protection for witnesses and victims but also other elements such as experts and human rights defenders.
“Those who fight for justice must not face threats and the like,” Yanuar said via WhatsApp message on Tuesday, 7 April 2026.
Several proposals for human rights defenders’ protection from the PKS faction, he explained, include that human rights defenders and their families cannot be prosecuted, either criminally or civilly, for their testimonies.
Furthermore, human rights defenders are also entitled to protection from the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) without requiring status as witnesses or victims.
“Including protection without application if they face serious threats,” said this PKS legislator.
The proposal for human rights defenders’ protection in the RUU PSDK was initially raised by Commission XIII member Rieke Diah Pitaloka in a meeting with the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Human Rights, last Monday.
She stated that this expansion is important to address practices of intimidation and criminalisation against justice fighters. “This must be a momentum to strengthen the anti-SLAPP system, anti-criminalisation against justice fighters,” said Rieke on Monday, 30 March 2026.
Anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) is a legal protection mechanism for citizens or activists from civil lawsuits or criminal charges aimed at silencing public participation, particularly on environmental issues.
In that meeting, Rieke proposed several more specific protection points. Human rights defenders and their families are proposed to be entitled to LPSK protection while carrying out their activities without having to have witness or victim status.
In addition, they are also proposed to not be prosecutable criminally or civilly for their testimonies or actions. “In the event of serious threats, LPSK is obliged to provide protection without waiting for an application,” said the PDIP politician.
The urgency of the proposal is reflected in the increasing trend of attacks on human rights defenders.
Amnesty International Indonesia recorded a trend of attacks on human rights defenders throughout 2025. In the January–June period alone, there were 104 human rights defenders as victims in 54 cases, with forms of attacks ranging from criminalisation, arrests, intimidation, to physical violence.
Throughout the year so far, that number has increased to 283 victims, with journalists and indigenous communities as the most affected groups.
A broader picture shows a systemic pattern. Throughout 2025, Imparsial recorded 226 incidents of attacks on human rights defenders, including physical violence, terror, to murder.
Findings from this institution focused on investigating human rights violations, advocacy, and strengthening democracy indicate structural problems, from weak legal guarantees, low state commitment, to impunity practices.