Unila: Human Rights Law Revision Must Be Adaptive to Future Challenges

The University of Lampung (Unila) has emphasised the importance of revising Law Number 39 of 1999 on Human Rights (HAM) to ensure it can address future challenges and remain adaptive to technological developments, social dynamics, and global changes. This view was conveyed by Unila’s Vice Rector IV for Planning, Cooperation, and Information Systems, Prof. Ayi Ahadiat, during a forum reviewing the draft amendment to the Human Rights Law held by Unila’s Faculty of Law in Bandarlampung on Monday. “This amendment must truly reach far into the future. Human rights regulations must always be adaptive to the times, technological progress, societal dynamics, and global challenges,” Ayi said. According to him, the revision of the Human Rights Law is not merely a change in legal norms, but an effort to strengthen the state’s commitment to guaranteeing respect, protection, fulfilment, enforcement, and advancement of human rights as mandated by the constitution. On the occasion, he also reminded attendees that human rights values have been part of the foundation of the Indonesian nation since the beginning of independence. He noted that human rights principles were already reflected in the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution, even before the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Beyond highlighting the substance of the Human Rights Law revision, Ayi asserted that universities have a moral and academic responsibility to serve as open, objective, and constructive spaces for dialogue in the public policy formulation process. He expressed hope that the forum would produce high-quality, comprehensive, and applicable input as an academic contribution to perfecting the draft amendment to the Human Rights Law. Ayi also invited forum participants to engage in critical discussion while upholding academic ethics to support the strengthening of the national legal system.