Harmonization of Prisoners’ Rights in National Law in Accordance with Global Standards

Authors

  • Richard Chandra Adam Faculty of Law, University Tarumanagara Author
  • Amad Sudiro Faculty of Law, University Tarumanagara Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9481-8983
  • Luo Yuan Yuan Assistant Researcher, China-ASEAN Legal Research Center, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, Chongqing Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15294/ijcls.v10i2.29702

Keywords:

Prisoners’ Rights, International Instruments, Human Rights

Abstract

This study is grounded in the principle that human rights are inherent and cannot be separated from individuals under any circumstances, including those serving prison sentences. Although imprisonment restricts personal liberty, it does not eliminate basic rights; however, violations of prisoners’ rights remain widespread globally and within Indonesia, including overcrowded and degrading prison conditions, forced labor practices, and inadequate access to healthcare, education, and legal aid. The research examines how international legal instruments regulate the protection of prisoners’ rights and how these standards are implemented within Indonesia’s correctional system. Employing a normative legal research method with a statutory approach, the study draws upon primary legal sources, such as international conventions and national legislation, as well as secondary materials consisting of academic writings, journal articles, and official reports. The findings indicate that several international instruments establish universal standards for the treatment of prisoners, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966), the Convention against Torture (1984), the Nelson Mandela Rules, and the Bangkok Rules for women prisoners. Indonesia has ratified key conventions and possesses a comprehensive domestic legal framework, including the 1945 Constitution, Pancasila, and Law Number 22 of 2022 on Corrections. Nonetheless, practical implementation remains limited due to persistent prison overcrowding, insufficient health facilities, unmet gender-specific needs of women prisoners, and the absence of ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT). The study concludes that despite strong normative foundations, there remains a significant gap between legal standards and correctional realities, and recommends ratifying the OPCAT, increasing correctional resources, strengthening rehabilitation-based programs, and adopting gender-responsive prison policies to align national practice with international human rights norms.

Author Biographies

  • Richard Chandra Adam, Faculty of Law, University Tarumanagara

    He is currently serving as a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Tarumanagara University, specializing in Business Law, Capital Markets, and Investment.

  • Amad Sudiro, Faculty of Law, University Tarumanagara

    He is the Rector of Tarumanagara University and a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Tarumanagara University. He earned his Doctoral Degree in Law from the Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia (FH-UI), and actively participates in various training programs, courses, and non-formal education in the fields of law, management, and leadership. He frequently serves as an expert witness and is actively engaged as a training instructor, facilitator, and speaker in numerous academic forums, both nationally and internationally. In addition to his academic activities, he conducts research and publishes books and scholarly articles in national and international journals, particularly in the areas of transportation and aviation law, international law, and contract law. With extensive experience as both an academic and a legal practitioner (advocate and arbitrator), he has also held leadership positions in several legal institutions and professional organizations, including Chairperson of the National Leadership Council of the Indonesian Legal Profession Association (DPN-APHI), Chair of the Indonesian Construction Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution Board (BADAPSKI), Advisor to the Association of Law School Leaders of Indonesia (APPTHI), and Patron of the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Association of Doctorate Holders in Law (DPP-ADHI).

  • Luo Yuan Yuan, Assistant Researcher, China-ASEAN Legal Research Center, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, Chongqing

    Luo Yuan Yuan is a Research Assistant at the China-ASEAN Legal Research Center, Southwest University of Political Science and Law (SWUPL). She obtained her Doctoral Degree from Tarumanagara University.

References

Afrizal, Riki, Iwan Kurniawan, dan Fajar Wahyudi. “RELEVANSI PELAYANAN TAHANAN DALAM SISTEM PEMASYARAKATAN TERHADAP TUJUAN PEMASYARAKATAN (TINJAUAN PERUBAHAN UNDANG-UNDANG PEMASYARAKATAN).” Masalah-Masalah Hukum 53, no. 1 (30 Maret 2024): 101–10. https://doi.org/10.14710/mmh.53.1.2024.101-110.

“AKIBAT HUKUM RATIFIKASI OPTIONAL PROTOCOL ON THE CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE (OPCAT) DAN PENGARUHNYA PADA PERLINDUNGAN HAK ATAS RASA AMAN DARI PENYIKSAAN DI INDONESIA | Jurnal Hukum to-ra : Hukum Untuk Mengatur dan Melindungi Masyarakat.” Diakses 5 Juli 2025. https://ejournal.fhuki.id/index.php/tora/article/view/167.

Alfita, Umi Hamidah. “Perlindungan HAM Terhadap Narapidana Di Lapas.” Gudang Jurnal Multidisiplin Ilmu 1, no. 4 (1 Oktober 2023): 12–16. https://doi.org/10.59435/gjmi.v1i4.95.

Alkautsar, Fauzan. “Perlindungan Hukum Terhadap Hak Narapidana Wanita Berdasarkan Undang-Undang Nomor 12 Tahun 1995 Tentang Pemasyarakatan (Studi Kasus Lapas Kelas II A Kuningan).” Uniku Law Review 1, no. 2 (26 Desember 2023). https://doi.org/10.25134/ulr.v1i2.21.

Andira, Tri Ayu, Emiel Salim Siregar, Wddi Mudthia Rizma, Zulham Ramanda Nasution, Muhammad Khadafi, Jaka Karya Suherman, Fadli Akbar Nasution, dan Khairil Iif Azmi. “Peran Hukum Internasional Pada Penyelesaian Sengketa Internasional (Studi Kasus Sengketa Palestine Serta Israel).” AL-MIKRAJ Jurnal Studi Islam Dan Humaniora (E-ISSN 2745-4584) 5, no. 01 (6 Juli 2024): 41–49. https://doi.org/10.37680/almikraj.v5i01.5572.

Anggraeni, Meri, Ahmad Ardiansyah, Maura Rofiqoh Sa’adah, dan Shinta Azzahra Sudrajat. “Menjembatani Barat Dan Timur: Implementasi Prinsip Ham Universal Dalam Yuriprudensi Islam Kontemporer.” JUSTITIABLE - Jurnal Hukum 7, no. 2 (5 Februari 2025): 148–55. https://doi.org/10.56071/justitiable.v7i2.1141.

Angkasa, Angkasa. “Deprivation of Inmates in Conducting Imprisonment and Guidance in Penitentiary on Victimology Perspective.” Journal of Indonesian Legal Studies 5, no. 1 (4 Mei 2020): 53–74. https://doi.org/10.15294/jils.v5i1.38520.

Baehaqqi, 17912015 M. Rizal. “Perlindungan Hak-Hak Narapidana (Studi Tentang Implementasi Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners Di Lembaga Pemasyarakatan Kelas IIB Sleman),” 2020. https://dspace.uii.ac.id/handle/123456789/28911.

BBC News. “UK Prisoner Voting Rights Breached, European Judges Rule.” 10 Februari 2015, bag. UK. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-31356895.

Cassilas, Anggian, dan Rugun Romaida Hutabarat. “Prinsip Individualisasi Pidana Dalam Penempatan Narapidana Berdasarkan Jenis Kejahatan.” UNES Law Review 6, no. 2 (2023): 6473–79. https://doi.org/10.31933/unesrev.v6i2.1504.

Codingest. “The Bangkok Rules, Kunci Ditjenpas Tingkatkan Pelayanan Bagi Warga Binaan Perempuan.” Ditjenpas. Diakses 5 Juli 2025. https://www.ditjenpas.go.id/the-bangkok-rules-kunci-ditjenpas-tingkatkan-pelayanan-bagi-warga-binaan-perempuan.

———. “Undang-Undang Pemasyarakatan 100% Refleksikan Mandela Rules.” Ditjenpas. Diakses 5 Juli 2025. https://www.ditjenpas.go.id/undang-undang-pemasyarakatan-100-refleksikan-mandela-rules.

ELSAM. “Hak-hak Narapidana.” Diakses 5 Juli 2025. https://www.elsam.or.id/bisnis-dan-ham/hak-hak-narapidana.

Firdaus, Firdaus. “KEDUDUKAN HUKUM INTERNASIONAL DALAM SISTEM PERUNDANG-UNDANGAN NASIONAL INDONESIA.” Fiat Justisia: Jurnal Ilmu Hukum 8, no. 1 (2014). https://doi.org/10.25041/fiatjustisia.v8no1.285.

Geraldi, Aldo Rico. “Mekanisme Pengaduan Oleh Committee Against Torture Terkait Tindakan Penyiksaan Dan Perlakuan Yang Merendahkan Martabat Manusia.” JURNAL YUSTIKA: MEDIA HUKUM DAN KEADILAN 23, no. 01 (10 September 2020): 36–48. https://doi.org/10.24123/yustika.v23i01.2871.

Hanafi, Hanafi. “Upaya Regulatif Pemenuhan Hak-Hak Narapidana Pada Sistem Pemasyarakatan Di Indonesia.” Al-Adl : Jurnal Hukum 15, no. 2 (20 Juli 2023): 380–403. https://doi.org/10.31602/al-adl.v15i2.7286.

Hayati, Rafiqah, dan Annisa Zakia Nasution. “Konsep Dasar Negara dalam Sistem Kenegaraan.” JURNAL TIPS JURNAL RISET, PENDIDIKAN DAN ILMU SOSIAL 1, no. 1 (9 Mei 2024): 30–36.

Humphrey, John P. “The Revolution in the International Law of Human Rights.” Human Rights 4, no. 2 (1975): 205–16.

“IMPLEMENTASI PENGATURAN HAK-HAK NARAPIDANA MELALUI THE NELSON MANDELA RULES DI INDONESIA | Tawawi | JUSTITIA Jurnal Ilmu Hukum dan Humaniora.” Diakses 5 Juli 2025. https://jurnal.um-tapsel.ac.id/index.php/Justitia/article/view/1588/0.

Iskandar, Mizaj. “HAM Dalam Prespektif Islam.” Media Syari’ah : Wahana Kajian Hukum Islam Dan Pranata Sosial 19, no. 1 (24 Oktober 2017): 111–26. https://doi.org/10.22373/jms.v19i1.2017.

Isnandar, Ali. “POLITIK HUKUM NASIONAL TERKAIT PENGATURAN LARANGAN PENYIKSAAN DALAM PERSPEKTIF PERLINDUNGAN HAK ASASI MANUSIA DI INDONESIA.” BULETIN KONSTITUSI 3, no. 2 (21 Oktober 2022). https://doi.org/10.30596/konstitusi.v3i2.10578.

Jailani, Muhammad, Dewi Sartika Mualipah, dan Muhammad Zainuddin. “Analisis Tanggung Jawab Negara Dalam Memberi Jaminan Perlindungan Hak Sipil Dan Politik Di Indonesia.” Jurnal Risalah Kenotariatan 2, no. 2 (30 Desember 2021). https://doi.org/10.29303/risalahkenotariatan.v2i2.45.

Khairunnisa, Andi Akhirah. “PENERAPAN PRINSIP-PRINSIP HAK ASASI MANUSIA DALAM PEMBENTUKAN PRODUK HUKUM OLEH PEMERINTAH DAERAH.” JURNAL MP (MANAJEMEN PEMERINTAHAN), 13 Juni 2018, 65–78.

Kusuma, Febriana Putri. “IMPLIKASI HAK-HAK NARAPIDANA DALAM UPAYA PEMBINAAN NARAPIDANA DALAM SISTEM PEMASYARAKATAN.” Recidive : Jurnal Hukum Pidana Dan Penanggulangan Kejahatan 2, no. 2 (1 Agustus 2013). https://doi.org/10.20961/recidive.v2i2.32028.

“Lesotho - March 2024 | The Global State of Democracy.” Diakses 5 Juli 2025. https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/report/lesotho/march-2024.

Maharani, Graciella Devi, dan Herry Fernandes Butar Butar. “STUDI DESKRIPTIF PELAYANAN KESEHATAN BAGI WARGA BINAAN PEMASYARAKATAN DI LEMBAGA PEMASYARAKATAN KELAS II B WONOSARI.” Gema Keadilan 9, no. 1 (24 Agustus 2022): 36–56. https://doi.org/10.14710/gk.2022.15651.

“Modern American Slavery: Forced Prison Labor – UAB Institute for Human Rights Blog.” Diakses 5 Juli 2025. https://sites.uab.edu/humanrights/2024/02/01/modern-american-slavery-forced-prison-labor/.

Muthalib, Abdul, Al Araf, Ali Akbar Tanjung, Dadang Trisasongko, Dedi Ali Ahmad, Achmad Qisai, Mohammed Gaussyah, dkk. “Evaluasi Pelaksanaan RANHAM 2004-2009 dan Rencana Ratifikasi Optional Protocol To The Convention Against Torture (CAT) dalam RANHAM 2004-2009 dan Perencanaan RANHAM 2010-2014.” Report: Report. Kemitraan bagi Pembaruan Tata Pemerintahan, 2012. https://www.neliti.com/publications/424/.

Nazifah, Nabila. “Hak Narapidana Dalam Perspektif Hak Asasi Manusia Di Lembaga Permasyarakatan Kelas II A Samarinda.” Nomos : Jurnal Penelitian Ilmu Hukum 1, no. 3 (28 Mei 2021): 98–105. https://doi.org/10.56393/nomos.v1i3.574.

“Penyelesaian Pelanggaran Hak Asasi Manusia Di Masyarakat | Agatha | Indigenous Knowledge.” Diakses 5 Juli 2025. https://jurnal.uns.ac.id/indigenous/article/view/76644.

Pradana, Indra Yuri, dan Edi Pranoto. “Pelaksanaan Pemenuhan Hak-Hak Narapidana Di Rutan Kelas IIB Demak.” Terang : Jurnal Kajian Ilmu Sosial, Politik Dan Hukum 1, no. 1 (21 Februari 2024): 57–74. https://doi.org/10.62383/terang.v1i1.61.

Pradipa, Arya, dan Muhamad Jodi Setianto. “PERAN DAN FUNGSI MEMPELAJARI HUKUM INTERNASIONAL BAGI MAHASISWA.” Jurnal Pendidikan Kewarganegaraan Undiksha 10, no. 3 (5 September 2022): 214–21. https://doi.org/10.23887/jpku.v10i3.52028.

Pratama, Brilyan Yudha, Tajul Arifin, dan Ine Fauzia. “Relevansi Pasal 5 Deklarasi Universal Hak Asasi Manusia Dan Al-Qur’an; Kontruksi Historis Pidana Islam.” Legalite : Jurnal Perundang Undangan Dan Hukum Pidana Islam 10, no. 1 (2 Februari 2025): 67–84. https://doi.org/10.32505/legalite.v10i1.10231.

Prawira, M. Rizki Yudha. “Regulation Act of Torture in Criminal Code: Opportunity and Challenge to Improve Human Rights Situation in Indonesia.” JUSTISI 11, no. 1 (2025): 17–35. https://doi.org/10.33506/js.v11i1.3653.

Ramadhani, Alfida Hamidah, Regita Dara Kirana, dan Safira Aulia Putri. “HAK ASASI MANUSIA BERDASAR PANCASILA.” Indigenous Knowledge 2, no. 6 (8 Januari 2024): 431–39.

Rosemary Barberet and Crystal Jackson. “UN Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-Custodial Sanctions for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules): A Gendered Critique.” Papers 102, no. 2 (2017): 216–217. https://ddd.uab.cat/pub/papers/papers_a2017v102n2/papers_a2017v102n2p215.pdf

Siallagan, Haposan. “PENERAPAN PRINSIP NEGARA HUKUM DI INDONESIA.” Sosiohumaniora 18, no. 2 (26 Oktober 2016): 122–28. https://doi.org/10.24198/sosiohumaniora.v18i2.9947.

Sinombor, Sonya Hellen. “KEDUDUKAN DEKLARASI UNIVERSAL HAK ASASI MANUSIA (UDHR) DALAM SISTEM HUKUM DI INDONESIA.” AL WASATH Jurnal Ilmu Hukum 3, no. 1 (20 April 2022): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.47776/alwasath.v3i1.336.

Sondjaya, Sonia Rohmawati, Anggraeni Mulyana, Dini Isnava Tratasukma, Tia Ludiana, dan Faris Fachrizal Jodi. “Pengaturan Hak Dan Kewajiban Narapidana Lapas Kelas Iia Permisan Nusakambangan Di Dalam Sistem Peradilan Pidana: Sebuah Kajian Terhadap Implikasi Perubahan Undang-Undang.” Das Sollen: Jurnal Kajian Kontemporer Hukum Dan Masyarakat 2, no. 01 (14 Januari 2024). https://journal.forikami.com/index.php/dassollen/article/view/589.

Subroto, Mitro, dan Johanes Situmorang. “Pelayanan Kesehatan Narapidana Perempuan Berdasarkan Bangkok Rules Di Lembaga Pemasyarakatan Perempuan.” Jurnal Pendidikan Tambusai 8, no. 3 (2 November 2024): 43046–51.

Sulistiyatna, Manggala Gita Arief. “Hak Remisi Dan Asimilasi Narapidana Di Indonesia Dalam Perspektif Hak Asasi Manusia.” Lex Renaissance 6, no. 1 (19 Oktober 2021): 57–77. https://doi.org/10.20885/JLR.vol6.iss1.art5.

Syahrial M. Wiryawan et al. Women Behind Bars in Indonesia. Indonesia Criminal Law Updates, Issue No. 1/2019. Jakarta: Institute for Criminal Justice Reform. https://www.icjr.or.id

Utami, Penny Naluria. “Pemenuhan Pelayanan Kesehatan Bagi Narapidana Perempuan Di Lembaga Pemasyarakatan Narkotika Langkat (Fulfillment of Health Services for Female Inmates at Langkat Narcotics Correctional Institution).” Sumber 2019 (2020): 8–397.

Widyawati, Anis, Muhammad Azil Maskur, Rohadhatul Aisy, Papontee Teerapan, and Heru Setyanto. “The Urgency of Supervision Institutions in Implementing Prisoners’ Rights as an Effort to Restructure Criminal Execution Laws.” Jambura Law Review 7, no. 1 (2025): 127–51. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.33756/jlr.v7i1.27595.

Wilujeng, Sri Rahayu. “HAK ASASI MANUSIA: TINJAUAN DARI ASPEK HISTORIS DAN YURIDIS.” HUMANIKA 18, no. 2 (13 Juli 2013). https://doi.org/10.14710/humanika.18.2.

Downloads

Published

2025-11-04

Article ID

29702

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 2 (2025): Indonesia J. Crim. L. Studies (November, 2025)

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Harmonization of Prisoners’ Rights in National Law in Accordance with Global Standards. (2025). Indonesian Journal of Criminal Law Studies, 10(2), 529-582. https://doi.org/10.15294/ijcls.v10i2.29702