RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Head of the Political Research Center at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Athiqah Nur Alami, calls for revising Presidential Regulation No. 125 of 2016 concerning the handling of foreign refugees. This statement was issued on the BRIN website on Monday, 23 February 2026.

Athiqah explained that this revision is urgently needed. She noted that current regulations focus only on emergency measures.

“A comprehensive revision of Presidential Regulation 125/2016, taking into account emergency situations, waiting periods, long-term solutions, and the roles of multiple parties, will be Indonesia’s contribution at the national, regional, and global levels,” Athiqah said.

Indonesia's election as President of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in January 2026 is a key reason for strengthening this regulation. This step can prove Indonesia's commitment to advancing global humanitarian issues.

Currently, there are 12,098 foreign refugees in Indonesia. The main challenge is fulfilling basic rights, such as education. Additionally, budget allocation between central and regional governments needs clarification. Global conditions also affect international support for these refugees.

BRIN Research Team Coordinator Tri Nuke Pudjiastuti also shared her opinion. She emphasized the importance of strengthening national laws.

“Indonesia has a national interest in regulating the handling and protection of foreign refugees. This also aims to mitigate wider social and security risks on society. Therefore, revising Presidential Regulation 125/2016 to include comprehensive solutions is an urgent need,” Tri Nuke explained.

Through more detailed new regulations, Indonesia is expected to find long-term solutions that involve many parties in managing refugees. Cooperation is very important in addressing this humanitarian issue.

As a follow-up, BRIN will hold a workshop at the BRIN Widya Graha Building in Jakarta on Tuesday, 24 February 2026. This event is a collaboration between BRIN and various international institutions, such as UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Indonesia and International Organization for Migration (IOM) Indonesia.