DPR Hopes Bill On Witness Protection And Victims Strengthen Legal And Human Rights Reform

JAKARTA - Chairman of Commission XIII DPR RI Willy Aditya, called the revision of Law Number 13 of 2006 concerning the Protection of Witnesses and Victims (UU PSdK) a strategic step in strengthening legal reform and enforcement of human rights (HAM) in Indonesia. He hopes that this revision will become a legal reference that is more oriented towards the recovery of victims than the punishment of perpetrators (retributive justice).

"One of the weaknesses of our legal system is the lack of attention to the rights of victims. This revision is a fundamental correction to the legal paradigm that has been more in favor of the perpetrators than the humanity of the victims. We hope that the revision of the PSDK Law which is being discussed by Commission XIII of the DPR can strengthen legal reform and protection of human rights in Indonesia," Willy told reporters, Wednesday, November 12.

According to Willy, this revision is an important marker of the shift in national law values from a retaliatory approach to a restorative justice approach. He considered that the new paradigm places victims not only as objects of law, but as the main subject whose dignity must be restored by the state.

"The protection of victims is an inseparable part of the state's responsibility in upholding justice and a sense of security. Regulational reforms must ensure that every citizen can access legal protection without discrimination," said Willy.

Willy explained that one of the main focuses of revising the PSDK Law is strengthening the institutional protection of Witnesses and Victims (LPSK) so that it has a wider reach to the regional level.

"So far, the limited resources and working areas of LPSK have made it difficult for many victims outside the big city to access legal assistance, security protection, and psychological support," he explained.

In addition, the revision of this law also opens up opportunities for public participation through the establishment of the Eternal Victim Fund (victim trust fund) as a form of social solidarity and the nation's collective responsibility.

"Community participation in the recovery of victims is expected to foster a just and empathetic legal culture, as well as strengthen the spirit of humanity," said Willy.

The commission leader in the DPR in charge of legal and human rights reform matters emphasized that the public's voluntarism-based approach in this revision reflects the new spirit of legal reform in favor of the people. Willy hopes that the new PSDK Law will increase state protection for witnesses and victims.

"We are not building a harsh law, but a civilized law. The goal is not just to punish, but to restore justice so that it does not stop in the courtroom, but is present in the victim's life," said the NasDem legislator from the XI East Java electoral district.

Furthermore, Willy ensured that Commission XIII of the DPR RI was committed to making the protection of witnesses and victims a priority agenda in national law reforms.

"With this revision, it is hoped that the Indonesian legal system will truly bring substantive justice in favor of humanity, and ensure that every citizen gets fair and dignified treatment," concluded Willy.