Ministry to Establish 200 Rights-Based Villages

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Ministry of Human Rights plans to establish 200 rights-based villages in 2026 under a program officially known as “Desa Sadar HAM” (Human Rights Awareness Villages), aimed at strengthening public understanding and implementation of human rights principles at the village level.

Director of Society, Communities and Business Actors at the ministry, Giyanto Wiyono, said the initiative seeks to ensure that human rights values are reflected in village regulations and local government policies.

“For the Bangka Belitung Islands, we will establish 10 rights-based villages,” Giyanto said in Pangkalpinang on Friday, February 13, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He said the ministry piloted the program in 2025 in 10 villages, focusing on introducing and socializing the concept of human rights awareness. In 2026, the ministry will expand the program by forming 200 villages across regional offices (kanwil) of the Ministry of Human Rights throughout Indonesia.

The program aims to build community awareness of how human rights principles can be implemented in village governance, including in the drafting of village regulations (perdes) and development planning.

“Village administrations will position human rights values in every policy so that governance is based on human rights principles,” Giyanto said.

Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai has instructed that the strengthening of human rights values be reflected in all village-level policies and regulations nationwide, he added.

Giyanto said the ministry expects the number of rights-based villages to increase this year, pending approval of additional budget allocations, in line with the minister’s directive to expand human rights awareness across all villages in Indonesia. ****