Yusril Aims to Submit Draft Human Rights Bill to House by Year-End

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra aims to submit the draft Human Rights Bill to the House of Representatives by the end of 2026 so that it can be discussed promptly.

“Our target is to have it completed by the end of this year,” Yusril said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He said the draft was a follow-up to proposals and coordination involving the initiating ministry, the Ministry of Human Rights, its harmonisation at the Ministry of Law, and input from independent bodies such as the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM).

Yusril stressed that the government remained open to making improvements as it drafted the bill. For his ministry, he said, critical input from civil society was an essential part of the lawmaking process.

The government recognised that changing times required updated, comprehensive human rights standards, he said.

“Differences of opinion about a bill, as long as they are presented with reasoned arguments and directed towards the public interest, show that people still regard this law as their own,” he said.

The initiative reflects the government’s commitment to openly gathering public aspirations and criticism in drafting the revision of the Human Rights Law.

Yusril said the revised bill would broaden the scope of protection to cover rights in both physical and digital spaces, personal data protection and cognitive freedom, and would require corporations to respect human rights.

On implementing human rights in practice, the coordinating minister highlighted the importance of institutional coordination, which is now a focus for his ministry. Protection, advancement, enforcement, fulfilment and respect for human rights must be reflected in the day-to-day work of government, he said.

“This cannot be left to just one ministry or one institution,” Yusril said.

The Human Rights Bill is included in the 2026 National Legislation Programme (Prolegnas) and is undergoing a series of public consultations in regions and at university campuses.