Speaking at a press conference at the ministry office on Tuesday, Pigai described the proposal as a global first, potentially setting a precedent.
“We are the first to link corruption and human rights. We hope the DPR will support this proposal, making Indonesia the first country to define corruption as a human rights violation,” he said.
Pigai confirmed that the clause has been included in the government’s proposed revision of Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights. “We will submit it to parliament,” he added.
He explained that corruption may constitute a human rights violation when committed during emergencies or when it “directly results in public suffering.”
However, he clarified that corruption in business or similar contexts may not meet that threshold. “If the corruption occurs in a business setting, I don’t believe it qualifies,” he said.
The inclusion of corruption in the revised law followed consultations with academics and experts in human rights and anti-corruption.
Pigai also emphasized the need for derivative legislation to further regulate the issue, noting that the Human Rights Law, like other laws, provides only a general framework for legal norms.
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Translator: Fath Putra Mulya, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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