Indonesia
The Republic of Indonesia performs in the mid-range in Representation, Rights and Rule of Law and is high-performing in Participation. It ranks in the top 25 per cent globally in Civil Society, Civic Engagement and Electoral Participation. Compared to five years prior, Indonesia has experienced declines in Access to Justice, Credible Elections, Effective Parliament, Judicial Independence and Predictable Enforcement. The fourth most populous nation in the world and home to the largest population of Muslims globally, Indonesia has a service-based economy largely dependent on domestic consumption.
Modern Indonesia encompasses an enormous diversity of ethnic and cultural groups on hundreds of islands and boasts both global megacities and uncontacted Papuan tribes. Over the course of the 20th century, Indonesians constructed a national identity through the conscious choice, primarily of youth, to promote the national language and a national motto of ‘Unity in Diversity.’ Following decades of struggle against a repressive Dutch colonial regime and Japanese occupation, the longtime nationalist leader Soekarno became the first president of independent Indonesia in 1945. Soekarno’s increasingly unstable rule ended in 1965, when the army general Soeharto seized power. He oversaw mass killings and a 32-year ‘New Order’ authoritarian regime. Riots fueled by the Asian Financial Crisis compelled his resignation in 1998, ushering in the reformasi period and a cycle of democratization, but party politics remain heavily fragmented and often depend on patronage and clientelist networks.
Contemporary national political cleavages revolve around secular and religious divides, with political parties maintaining distinct views on state-Islam relations. Gender is caught up in these cleavages, as conceptions of private morality and women’s roles in society are negotiated using these frameworks. In recent years laws have been more conservative; in December 2022, Parliament adopted a new law that criminalized extramarital sex and unmarried cohabitation. Over the past decade, Indonesia has made progress in achieving gender parity in education and increasing women’s political participation through legislated candidate quotas. However, women’s labor force participation remains low and gender-based violence is a pressing issue.
In recent years, the weakening of the country’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has been reflected in the Absence of Corruption metrics. Recent elections have seen allegations of governmental interference in the judiciary, including a controversial court ruling to lower the age limit of presidential candidates. There are also broad socio-economic disparities between Indonesia’s diverse islands; almost half the population lives in rural areas where access to basic services and resources is poor, with ‘circular migration’ to urban areas for work. Separatist movements have marked Indonesian history, including the secession of Timor Leste in 1999, the independence struggle in Aceh, which ended after the devastating tsunami in 2004 and ongoing unrest and armed groups aiming for independence in West Papua province.
The return of the military to politics in recent years indicates that it will be important to watch factors of the Rule of Law in the next several years. Judicial Independence in particular should be monitored, given recent politicized court rulings and jockeying for power between the various branches of government. Continued political conflict over the management of natural resources and environmental sectors may be reflected in Absence of Corruption or affect socio-political stability between the islands.
Last Updated: June 2025
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
August 2026
Court strikes down laws criminalizing insulting the government
On 29 August 2026, Indonesia's Constitutional Court struck down provisions of the 2023 Criminal Code that criminalized insulting the government or disseminating such insults. The Code had come into force in January 2026. The provisions, which carried penalties of up to three years' imprisonment, had been criticized by civil-society groups and legal experts for restricting free expression and discouraging public criticism of state institutions. The Court ruled that the articles risked criminalizing legitimate criticism and creating a chilling effect on public debate. The decision followed a judicial review petition filed by law students and is final and binding. Rights advocates welcomed the ruling as an important safeguard for freedom of expression and civic space, although some noted that other legal provisions which could be used against government critics remain law.
June 2026
Police officers to be allowed to hold more dual posts
On 9 June 2026, Indonesia’s parliament approved revisions to the National Police Law allowing serving police officers to occupy positions in civilian ministries and state agencies without resigning from the police force. The amendments permit active officers to hold posts related to public security, law enforcement and public services, and allow appointments at the request of the president or government agencies. Civil society groups, legal experts and human rights organizations criticized the reforms, arguing that they blur the distinction between civilian administration and law enforcement, weaken accountability mechanisms and contradict a 2025 Constitutional Court ruling requiring officers to resign before assuming non-police positions. The reform represents a significant institutional expansion of police influence within the civilian state apparatus and raises concerns about oversight, checks and balances, and the increasing role of security institutions in governance.
Indonesia restricts social media access for children under 16
In March 2026, Indonesia introduced regulations restricting access to social media platforms for children under 16, requiring operators of designated high-risk platforms to prevent underage users from maintaining accounts. The policy, announced on 6 March and scheduled to take effect later that month, was justified by the government as a response to cyberbullying, online fraud, exposure to pornography and social media addiction among minors. By late June, Communications and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid reported that TikTok and YouTube had deactivated approximately 4.7 million accounts belonging to children following implementation of the restrictions. The regulations significantly expand state oversight of access to online communication platforms and information channels. While framed as a child-protection measure, the policy represents a major change in the regulation of digital expression and access to information in Indonesia.
Sources: The Guardian , Jakarta Post , The Diplomat
April 2026
Civilians killed as tensions escalate in West Papua
Twelve civilians were allegedly killed by Indonesian troops during an ‘enforcement operation’ targeting the separist West Papua National Liberation Army in Central Papua province on 14 April. The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), a state-sanctioned rights watchdog, confirmed the killings and called on the government to adjust its approach and deescalate the rising tensions in the region. Komnas HAM documented 12 other violent incidents in Papua in March and April before the 14 April clash in which an additional five soldiers and three civilians were killed. Student activists held protests across the region on 27 April against the killings and what they argue is ‘militarization’ of the region, some of which were dispersed with tear gas and water cannons.
Sources: Reuters , ULMWP , Human Rights Monitor , Human Rights Monitor, Jakarta Post (1), Jakarta Post (2)
Parliament passes domestic worker protection law
Indonesia’s parliament passed the Domestic Workers Protection Law on 21 April 2026, granting the country’s estimated 4.2 million domestic workers, the majority of whom are women, legal status as employees and the accompanying strengthened labour rights. Domestic workers will now also enjoy access to health benefits and social security programs, and state-provided education and vocational training. The Law has been stalled in the country’s legislature for twenty years, and its passage was met with broad approval from labour unions and civic groups. The domestic workers’ rights group Jala PRT celebrated the ruling but warned that significant work needed to be done to educate employers and enforce the new provisions. Furthermore, the Law does not provide for a minimum wage and grants authorities 12 months to define and develop enforcement mechanisms.
Sources Straits Times, Jakarta Globe Jakarta Post
March 2026
Court acquits four activists prosecuted for ‘incitement’ linked to the August 2025 protests
The Central Jakarta District Court acquitted Delpedro Marhaen, Muzaffar Salim, Syahdan Husein, and Khariq Anhar on 6 March of charges of inciting unrest via social media in connection with the August 2025 demonstrations. The acquitted had made social media posts encouraging people to join the protests. Prosecutors had sought two-year prison terms, and the four were held in pre-trial detention for six months. The four were among the highest profile detainees among thousands arrested in the wake of the August 2025 demonstrations, most of whom have been released without convictions. Rights activists hailed the decision as precedent-setting for freedom of political speech. Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra also praised the court’s decision and said it showed the government had kept its promise to not interfere with judicial processes connected to the August 2025 demonstrations.
Sources: Tempo, Malay Mail, Kompas, CNN Indonesia, Tempo, International IDEA
Acid attack on a prominent human-rights defender linked to anti militarization advocacy
Human rights activist Andrie Yunus was the victim of an acid attack in central Jakarta on 12 March. When driving his motorcycle, two assailants threw acid on Yunus, causing burns over 20 per cent of his body. On 19 March, four soldiers who allegedly participated in the attack were arrested by military police. Yunus is a well-known activist investigating the military’s history of forced disappearances and a prominent critic of the Military Law passed in March 2025, which allows active-duty military officers to simultaneously hold civilian government posts in 14 institutions. The assailants are to be tried in a military court, which are subject to fewer procedural protections and a less transparency than civilian courts, which activists argue could lead to the attackers escaping justice.
Sources: Civicus Monitor, Tempo, British Broadcasting Corporation
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