TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) appreciates Indonesia's commitment and humanitarian responsibility in providing safe and hopeful conditions for refugees.
"Indonesia's humanitarian commitment has given safety and hope for forcibly displaced people, while demonstrating the importance of shared responsibility," said Hendrik Therik, UNHCR Indonesia spokesperson, in a press release received by Antara in Jakarta on Sunday, June 21, 2026.
Noting the solidarity shown across various stakeholders, Therik pointed out that refugee protection can be achieved through collaboration, compassion, and concrete action.
7 out of 10 Refugees
According to the UNHCR Global Trends report, seven out of ten refugees worldwide live in long-term displacement, spending years away from home while waiting for sustainable solutions.
UNHCR mentioned that humanitarian aid, while live-saving, does not allow refugees to rebuild their lives and futures.
A similar situation also occurs in Indonesia, UNHCR said, noting that many refugees have been living in Indonesia for years while awaiting long-term solutions.
Emily Bojovic, the Senior Protection officer at UNHCR Indonesia, said all parties will see the benefit if refugees are provided with the opportunity to utilize their skills, continue education, volunteer, and participate in society.
12 Thousand Refugees in Indonesia
Two of the 12,000 refugees and asylum seekers currently in Indonesia are Amed and Amina.
UNHCR stated that Amed now leads a community organization led by refugees to help fellow refugees adapt to life in Indonesia, and provides informal learning activities for refugee children.
Meanwhile, Amina, a mother and wife from Afghanistan and also a karate coach, helps members of her community build confidence and resilience.
UNHCR believes that refugee-led organizations contribute to providing informal education programs, skill training, support for fellow refugees, sports activities, and various community initiatives that help refugees face challenges and build social cohesion.
"We see the tremendous impact when refugees have the opportunity to realize their potential and contribute to the communities around them," added Bojovic.
UNHCR also thanked Indonesia for continuing its commitment to the protection of those seeking safety when the rights to seek asylum are under significant pressure in various parts of the world.
"For thousands of refugees who have sought protection in Indonesia for several decades, Indonesia has and continues to be a symbol of humanity," said Hendrik.
Indonesia Has Not Ratified the Refugee Convention
International Law Lecturer at the University of Indonesia, Arie Afriansyah, stated that Indonesia faces challenges as a transit country accommodating long-term refugees due to the increasingly limited opportunities for their placement in third countries.
"Another challenge is the limited capacity of hosting countries, potential social tensions with the local community, and the emergence of human smuggling networks exploiting the refugee situation," said Arie when contacted by Antara in Jakarta.
He mentioned that Indonesia has not ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol. As a result, the national legal framework remains limited, especially through Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 125 of 2016 concerning the Handling of Foreign Refugees.
Arie stated that although it can help with the initial handling of refugees, the regulation does not fully address long-term issues such as legal status, access to work, education, health, financing, and the division of authority between the central and regional governments.
He also emphasized that Indonesia must still respect humanitarian principles and the non-refoulement principle: not to return someone to a place where they are at risk of persecution or serious threats.
"So, the approach cannot solely focus on border security but must combine legal, humanitarian, diplomatic, and regional cooperation aspects," he said.
Furthermore, Arie stated that Indonesia cannot rely solely on placement in Australia as the solution, as the number of refugees accepted by Australia is limited and must be divided to meet the needs of refugees from around the world. This restriction leaves many refugees in long-term uncertainty in Indonesia.
He also added that Indonesia can promote more long-term solution schemes, including placement in third countries, voluntary repatriation when the situation in the country of origin is safe, and complementary pathways such as education, training, or humanitarian sponsorship.
"Indonesia must continue fulfilling its humanitarian obligations, but the destination countries and the international community must also take a more tangible part in funding, placement, and long-term solutions for refugees," he said.
Read: Government Seeks UNHCR Protection for Indonesian Refugees Abroad
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
