Jakarta, 25 February 2026 – The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Indonesia successfully concluded a two-day National Consultation to Strengthen Protection Policies for Women Environmental Human Rights Defenders (WEHRDs) in Indonesia on 24–25 February 2026 in Jakarta.  

The event brought together WEHRDs from 11 provinces—including Aceh, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Bangka Belitung Islands, Central Kalimantan, North Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, South Papua, and Papua Pegunungan—along with civil society organizations and key government ministries. Participants collaborated to develop concrete advocacy strategies and strengthen cross-sectoral cooperation to ensure the safety of women defenders, whose work is vital for both communities and the environment.

This consultation is part of the joint project "Strengthening Women's Civil Society and Women Environmental Human Rights Defenders' Public Participation and Influence for a Just, Green Future," implemented by UNDP Indonesia in partnership with Komnas Perempuan and funded by the UNDP Governance, Peacebuilding, Crisis, and Resilience (GPCR) window. The project runs from May 2025 to June 2026 and is executed across five countries: Indonesia, the Philippines, Iraq, Uganda, and Kenya.  

Unlike earlier forums focused on awareness-raising, this two-day session adopted a participatory, outcome-oriented approach. The first day focused on grassroots-led situation analysis, while the second day facilitated structured dialogue between WEHRD representatives and ten key government institutions to secure commitments. This approach emphasized that protecting women defenders is essential not only for human rights but also for sustaining ecosystems, natural resources, and community livelihoods.

The consultation highlighted the urgent risks faced by women defenders. Between 2020 and 2024, Komnas Perempuan received 80 complaints from women related to natural resource conflicts, agrarian disputes, and evictions. Digital threats are also escalating: using e-Monitor+, an AI-supported tool, Komnas Perempuan identified 311 pieces of dangerous online content and 204 incidents of online gender-based violence targeting WEHRDs between September 2025 and January 2026, including doxing, deepfakes, and coordinated harassment. These risks demonstrate that the safety of women defenders is directly tied to the protection of both people and planet.

Maria Ulfah Anshor, Chairperson of Komnas Perempuan, emphasized the legal imperative of protection: "Protection for Women Environmental Human Rights Defenders is not a policy option. It is a constitutional mandate. It is a state obligation." She highlighted the unique vulnerabilities these women face, "Women Environmental Human Rights Defenders face risks that are not gender-neutral. Besides intimidation and criminalization, they face gender-based violence, attacks on reputation, sexual harassment in real and virtual spaces, moral stigmatization, and pressure on families."  

Siprianus Bate Soro, Head of Human Development and Responsive Governance Unit at UNDP Indonesia, reinforced the broader significance, stating "protection for Women Human Rights Defenders is not just a gender issue, but an issue of democracy, environmental justice, and the future of the nation." He also added that "when a woman human rights defender feels safe, then the forests they guard will be preserved, the communities they accompany will prosper, and the law will stand fairly."

During the consultation, WEHRDs mapped protection gaps and identified policy entry points at national and sub-national levels. Their joint advocacy strategy focused on rapid response mechanisms, multi-dimensional protection (physical, psychosocial, digital, legal), and addressing misuse of vague legal provisions to criminalize defenders.  

These recommendations were presented to ten key Ministries and Agencies, including the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Forestry, Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, Ministry of Law, Ministry of Human Rights, Ministry of Communication and Digital, Indonesian National Police, National Commission on Human Rights, Victims and Witness Protection Agency, and the National Commission on Disabilities. Several institutions expressed readiness to integrate these measures into their workplans and maintain ongoing dialogue with Komnas Perempuan and UNDP, recognizing that safeguarding women defenders strengthens both communities and the environment across Indonesia.