Profiles of the Three Candidates for the 2026 Hoegeng Awards for Protecting Women and Children
The peak event of the 2026 Hoegeng Awards is scheduled to take place on Friday, 31 July. During the ceremony, one exemplary police officer will be announced as the recipient of the Hoegeng Award in the category of Police Protector of Women, Children, and Vulnerable Groups.
The awards ceremony will commence at 19:00 WIB at The Tribrata Darmawangsa, South Jakarta, and will be broadcast live. The event is expected to be attended by the Chief of the Indonesian National Police, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and the Chairman of CT Corp, Chairul Tanjung, alongside various ministers and heads of state institutions.
The Hoegeng Awards 2026 Expert Panel has selected three finalists for this prestigious honour: AKP Siti Elminawati, AKBP Ema Rahmawati, and Ipda Kadek Sumerta.
1. AKP Siti Elminawati
AKP Siti Elminawati has been active in the field of protecting women and children since the early 2000s. She currently serves as the Head of Criminal Investigation at the Sigi Police Station, Central Sulawesi Regional Police. She has uncovered several high-profile cases, including the rape of a teenage girl by 11 perpetrators, which included a village head and a member of the Brimob unit.
Dewi Rana, Executive Director of Libu Perempuan Sulteng, praised her dedication, professionalism, and humanitarian approach. She noted that AKP Siti prioritises the protection of victims of violence within families and the community, fostering trust in the police institution. Her track record also includes uncovering cases of infants being sold and human trafficking involving children from Central Sulawesi.
2. Ipda Kadek Sumerta
Ipda Kade Sumerta manages the Bhakti Senang Hati Foundation in Gianyar, Bali, which supports over 100 persons with disabilities. His involvement began in 2017 during his tenure as a community police officer (Bhabinkamtibmas). He provides literacy training and empowerment programmes to help these individuals achieve independence.
Currently serving as a sub-division officer at the Blahbatuh Police Station, Ipda Sumerta’s work is highly regarded by the local community. The foundation, which relies on the sale of paintings and crafts, currently supports 130 children. His motivation stems from a desire to ensure that vulnerable members of society are not neglected by the state.
3. AKBP Ema Rahmawati
AKBP Ema Rahmawati serves as the Head of Operational Supervision at the Directorate of Crimes against Women and Children (PPA) and Human Trafficking (PPO) within the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri). She is recognised for her proactive ‘jemput bola’ (proactive outreach) approach in handling cases involving women and children.
AKBP Ema has played a vital role in establishing PPA-PPO Directorates across several regional police departments. She is noted for her communicative approach, which helps victims and the public feel comfortable and supported during the legal process, ensuring that the interests of vulnerable groups are prioritised.