The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has granted Human Rights Defender status to KontraS activist Andrie Yunus, who was a victim of an acid attack on Thursday evening (March 12).

Komnas HAM Commissioner for Monitoring and Investigation Saurlin P. Siagian said the Human Rights Defender certificate was issued on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, and delivered to the victim through his representative.

“First, the Human Rights Defender certificate under the name Andrie Yunus, Number 001/PM.04/HRD/TIWA/III/2026 dated March 17, 2026, has been handed over to the victim through his representative,” he said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Siagian noted that the assessment process for the status was conducted from March 12 to March 16, 2026, in accordance with Komnas HAM Regulation Number 5 of 2015 on procedures for providing protection to human rights defenders, and aimed to ensure protection for the victim.

On the same occasion, Coordinator of the Subcommission on Human Rights Enforcement at Komnas HAM Pramono Ubaid Tanthowi said the assessment was carried out through communication with KontraS to obtain information on the victim’s background and track record as an activist.

“We have also been continuously communicating with our colleagues at KontraS to obtain various information, including the basis for issuing this Human Rights Defender certificate,” he said.

In addition, Tanthowi stated that the protection letter had been received by the Greater Jakarta Police as a prompt response to protect the activist from criminalization and to ensure proper law enforcement.

He explained that the swift issuance of the status and protection letter was intended to send a message to law enforcement officers to promptly resolve the case.

“Law enforcement must not be carried out arbitrarily, that is the message of this protection letter,” he said.

Related news: Acid attack on activist defies RI Govt's freedom pledge: Lawmaker

Related news: Indonesian lawmaker calls acid attack on activist a democracy warning