Komnas Perempuan Promotes Government Action to Implement UN Recommendations on Migrant Worker Rights

Jakarta, 21 May 2026 — The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) presented its mapping and analysis of the Concluding Observations issued by the United Nations Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (CMW Committee) at a strategic dialogue with government ministries and agencies. The Concluding Observations outline the Committee's findings and recommendations following its review of Indonesia's periodic report, submitted in late 2025. The dialogue aimed to strengthen Indonesia's commitment as a State Party to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families by promoting concrete follow-up measures. The initiative also formed part of Komnas Perempuan's mandate to monitor the implementation of international human rights obligations in Indonesia, including the government's follow-up on recommendations issued by UN treaty bodies.

The dialogue, opened by Komnas Perempuan Chairperson Maria Ulfah Anshor, addressed key challenges in protecting women migrant workers, including the harmonization of regulations, stronger inter-agency coordination, the protection of migrant workers' children, and safeguards for those working in high-risk sectors, particularly the maritime sector. Participants also discussed the multiple risks faced by women migrant workers, including gender-based violence, human trafficking, labour exploitation, and digital fraud.

Komnas Perempuan Commissioner Sondang Frishka Simanjuntak emphasized that the CMW Committee's Concluding Observations highlight the need for human rights-based and gender-responsive migration governance. She underscored the importance of strengthening regulatory frameworks, institutional coordination, access to justice, survivor support services, and effective monitoring and accountability mechanisms to ensure comprehensive protection for migrant workers at every stage of the migration cycle.

The discussion also identified persistent structural challenges, including inadequate cross-sectoral coordination, limited availability of disaggregated data, and barriers to accessing justice, which continue to hinder effective responses to cases involving women migrant workers. Participants emphasized the need for closer collaboration among government institutions, national human rights institutions, and civil society organizations to ensure that the Committee's recommendations are effectively implemented.

During the forum, the Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI), as the lead government institution responsible for migrant worker protection, welcomed Komnas Perempuan's initiative to map the CMW Committee's Concluding Observations. Rinardi Rusman, Director General at KP2MI, reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to addressing the key issues identified through the dissemination of recommendations, the development of a National Action Plan (RAN), and stronger coordination among ministries and government agencies.

Sofia Alatas, Director General at the Ministry of Human Rights, emphasized that following up on the CMW Committee's Concluding Observations is a State obligation arising from Indonesia's ratification of the Convention. Chaeruniza Fitriyani, Senior Expert Planner at the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas), further highlighted that migrant worker protection forms part of the national strategic agenda under the 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), particularly through its focus on human development and gender mainstreaming.

The dialogue was attended by Komnas Perempuan Chairperson Maria Ulfah Anshor, Commissioners Sondang Frishka Simanjuntak and Rr. Sri Agustini, and staff members from the International Advocacy Division and the Legal and Policy Reform Division.