Indonesia - April 2026

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)

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