The Faculty of Law at Gadjah Mada University (UGM), in collaboration with the Directorate General of Legislation of the Ministry of Law of the Republic of Indonesia, held a public hearing on the Draft Law (RUU) on Criminal Penalty Adjustments in Room 3.1.2 of Building III at the Faculty of Law, Gadjah Mada University, on Friday, September 26, 2025. This event was organized in connection with the drafting of the Draft Law on Criminal Law Adjustments as a follow-up to Article 613 of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code (KUHP), which will take effect in 2026.
This public hearing served as a forum for academic discussion to examine the substance of the bill, which has been approved for inclusion in the 2025 Priority National Legislation Program (Prolegnas). The bill aims to adjust criminal provisions in various laws outside the Criminal Code and align them with the penal system under the new Criminal Code.
On this occasion, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Cooperation at the UGM Faculty of Law, Prof. Adrianto Dwi Nugroho, S.H., Adv.LL.M., LL.D., delivered opening remarks on behalf of the Dean of the UGM Faculty of Law. In his remarks, Prof. Adrianto stated that the faculty welcomed the holding of this Public Hearing on the Criminal Penalty Adjustment Bill. He noted that the event provided a valuable opportunity for the academic community to offer input on the legislative drafting process, particularly in the context of implementing the new Criminal Code.
Next, Dr. Hendra Kurnia Putra, Acting Director of Legislative Drafting, presented a report on the public hearing for the draft bill on Criminal Law Adjustments.
Meanwhile, Nabiyla Risfa Izzati, S.H., LL.M. (Adv)., Ph.D., emphasized that the protection of migrant workers is the state’s responsibility in guaranteeing the basic rights of its citizens. She highlighted the importance of understanding employment contracts, wage transparency, and the prohibition on the confiscation of personal documents as essential components of legal protection. The Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights, Prof. Dr. Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej, S.H., M.Hum., delivered a keynote address affirming that the Criminal Law Amendment Bill was drafted to implement the provisions of the new Article 613 of the Criminal Code. According to him, these adjustments include the harmonization of criminal provisions in laws outside the Criminal Code, regional regulations, as well as internal adjustments to a number of articles within the Criminal Code itself.
Next, Professor of Criminal Law at the UGM Faculty of Law, Prof. Dr. Marcus Priyo Gunarto, S.H., M.Hum., as the second speaker, presented an academic response to the substance of the bill. In addition, Sri Wiyanti Eddyono, S.H., LL.M. (HR), Ph.D., a lecturer in Criminal Law at the UGM Faculty of Law, served as the third speaker, offering input and academic feedback on the substance of the bill.
This public hearing was attended both in person and online by a diverse group of participants. In-person participants included academics and students from the UGM Faculty of Law, specifically faculty members from the Department of Criminal Law and students majoring in criminal law. Also in attendance were representatives from law enforcement agencies, namely judges from the Yogyakarta District Court, the Yogyakarta District Attorney’s Office, the DIY High Prosecutor’s Office, and the DIY Regional Police. Meanwhile, online participants included academics and law students from the Special Region of Yogyakarta.
Through this event, the UGM Faculty of Law reaffirmed its role as an academic institution that actively contributes to the national legislative process and the strengthening of scientifically-based criminal law research. This public hearing is expected to provide constructive input for refining the Criminal Penalty Adjustment Bill before it is further discussed at the legislative level.
The holding of this public hearing on the Criminal Penalty Adjustment Bill is also aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), through the strengthening of a fair, transparent, and accountable national legal system. Furthermore, this event supports SDG 4 (Quality Education) by providing a space for learning and participation for the academic community in the evidence-based legislative process. Through collaboration between the government and universities, this event also contributes to the realization of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by fostering cross-institutional synergy.
