The Faculty of Law of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in collaboration with the Directorate General of Legislation of the Ministry of Law of the Republic of Indonesia, organized a Public Consultation on the Draft Law on the Protection of Witnesses and Victims. The event was held at the Auditorium of the UGM Faculty of Law on Wednesday (14/1/2026). The consultation was conducted in response to the drafting of a new Law on the Protection of Witnesses and Victims, building upon Law No. 13 of 2006 on the Protection of Witnesses and Victims and Law No. 31 of 2014 concerning Amendments to Law No. 13 of 2006 on the Protection of Witnesses and Victims.
The event opened with remarks delivered virtually by Dr. Dhahana Putra, BC.IP., S.H., M.Si., Director General of Legislation. Opening remarks were also delivered by Prof. Adrianto Dwi Nugroho, S.H., Adv.LL.M., LL.D., Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Cooperation of the UGM Faculty of Law. Both speakers expressed their strong support for the public consultation and emphasized the importance of participatory law-making processes.
Moderated by Dr. Hendra Kurnia Putra, S.H., M.H., Director of Legislative Drafting, the consultation featured three distinguished speakers. The first speaker, (Dr. iur.) Antonius P.S. Wibowo, S.H., M.H., Vice Chairperson of the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK), delivered a presentation entitled “Twenty Years of the Implementation of the Witness and Victim Protection Law: Reflections from LPSK.” The second and third speakers were academics from the UGM Faculty of Law. Sri Wiyanti Eddyono, S.H., LL.M. (HR), Ph.D., presented “Notes on the Draft Law on the Protection of Witnesses and Victims: Victim Recovery within a Broad Framework of Witness and Victim Protection.” This was followed by Dr. Muhammad Fatahillah Akbar, S.H., LL.M., who delivered a presentation entitled “Recommendations for the Draft Law on the Protection of Witnesses and Victims.”
The public consultation aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). Strengthening the legal framework for witness and victim protection contributes to a more inclusive, equitable, and human rights-oriented justice system. Furthermore, the active involvement of academics, state institutions, and members of the public reflects a commitment to participatory, transparent, and accountable governance. The consultation also supports SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by fostering collaboration between higher education institutions and government agencies in the formulation of public policies that are responsive to societal needs.
Through this initiative, UGM and the Ministry of Law hope that the Draft Law will accommodate more comprehensive, equitable, and victim-centered protection mechanisms. Input from academics and legal practitioners is expected to enrich the substance of the bill and enhance its capacity to address future challenges in witness and victim protection. The event also reaffirmed the strategic role of universities as critical partners of the state in the development of human rights-oriented legislation.
