Commemorating 25 Years of the Implementation of Citizens Constitutional Rights

Commemorating 25 Years of the Implementation of Citizens’ Constitutional Rights 

“12 Women's Entities Continue to Experience Obstacles to 40 Constitutional Rights” 

Jakarta, August 19, 2025 

“Constitution Day of the Republic of Indonesia, commemorated every August 18, is an important moment to reflect on the implementation of the Constitution as the main foundation of national and state life,” said Dahlia Madanih, Deputy Chairperson of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan). 

Furthermore, Dahlia stated that Komnas Perempuan identified 40 constitutional rights for women as stipulated in the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia to ensure gender equality and the protection of women's human rights. These rights are divided into 14 groups, including: the right to citizenship; the right to life; the right to self-development; the right to freedom of thought and freedom of choice; the right to information; the right to work and a decent living; the right to property and housing; the right to health and a healthy environment; the right to family; the right to legal certainty and justice; the right to be free from the threat of discrimination and violence; the right to protection; the right to fight for rights; and the right to government. 

“These rights should be a basic guarantee for women throughout Indonesia to live with dignity and equality,” Dahlia continued. 

According to Commissioner Chatarina Pancer Istiyani, the Constitution mandates the state, especially the government, to guarantee the protection, fulfillment, respect, and enforcement of human rights as part of the constitutional rights of citizens. 

“Over the past 25 years, of the 28,726 national-level policies documented in the Legal Documentation and Information Network (JDIH), only around 62 policies (0.2 percent) relate to the fulfillment of women's human rights and the handling of violence against victims,” ​​Chatarina remarked. 

Meanwhile, Dahlia also added that since 2000, there are still 305 discriminatory regional bylaws that have not been addressed. This means that over the past 25 years, an average of 10–12 discriminatory policies have been enacted each year. 

“Komnas Perempuan noted, based on the Komnas Perempuan Annual Notes on Violence against Women (CATAHU) documentation from 2001 to the present, that there are 12 groups of women who, either singly or in combination, continue to face violations of their constitutional rights. This is reflected in the experiences of violence and discrimination they face, including: women  victims of sexual violence; women  victims of domestic violence; women victims of trafficking in persons; women living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS); women migrant workers; women with disabilities; women from religious minority groups; women human rights defenders; women with diverse gender identities and sexualities; women forced into prostitution; indigenous women; and womendomestic workers," explained Chatarina Pancer Istiyani. 

Commissioner Daden Sukendar stated that two entities, namely indigenous women and women domestic workers, have been waiting for up to 25 years for the ratification of the Indigenous Peoples Bill and the Domestic Workers Protection Bill (RUU PPRT). 

“Hence, on the 25th anniversary of the constitution's implementation, Komnas Perempuan is launching a survey aimed at Indonesian women. This survey aims to provide public understanding of human rights, which are also constitutional rights for women, and is crucial for understanding the current situation and conditions of the enjoyment of the rights guaranteed in the constitution, based on women's voices and experiences," added Daden. 

Therefore, to Indonesian citizens, especially women, in commemoration of Constitution Day, Komnas Perempuan invites women to recognize their constitutional rights and to participate in filling out the questionnaire “How Many of My Constitutional Rights Are Enjoyed and Obstructed” (“Seberapa Jumlah Hak Konstitusionalku Dinikmati dan Terhambat”) through the link https://bit.ly/ScoreHakKonstitusionalmu from August 18 to August 31, 2025. 

“We hope that all Indonesian women can recognize their constitutional rights as citizens and participate widely in completing this questionnaire,” Dahlia concluded. 

Contact Person: Elsa Faturahmah (081389371400)