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

IJCLS (Indonesian Journal of Criminal Law Studies) · Vol. 10 No. 2 (2025) · pp. 529–582

DOI
10.15294/ijcls.v10i2.29702
ISSN
2548-1576, 2548-1568
Published
2025-11-04
Publisher
Universitas Negeri Semarang
Language
eng

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.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

17 authors · 29 co-authorship links

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Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Suwinto JohanAffiliation unknown2
Suwinto JohanAffiliation unknown1
Ariawan GunadiAffiliation unknown1
Ida KurniaAffiliation unknown1
Mella Ismelina Farma RahayuAffiliation unknown1
Anthon Freddy SusantoAffiliation unknown1
Ariawan GunadiAffiliation unknown1
Yuan Yuan LuoAffiliation unknown1
Bhanu Prakash NunnaAffiliation unknown1
Hamja HamjaAffiliation unknown1
Dey RavenaAffiliation unknown1
Raita VariaAffiliation unknown1
Mella Ismelina F. RahayuAffiliation unknown1
Tolib Turgun Ugli RakhmonovAffiliation unknown1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/ijcls/oai, first harvested 5 Nov 2026, last seen 8 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en">Harmonization of Prisoners’ Rights in National Law in Accordance with Global Standards</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Chandra Adam, Richard </dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Amad Sudiro</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Luo Yuan Yuan</dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Prisoners’ Rights</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">International Instruments</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Human Rights</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">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.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Universitas Negeri Semarang</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2025-11-04</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/ijcls/article/view/29702</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.15294/ijcls.v10i2.29702</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">IJCLS (Indonesian Journal of Criminal Law Studies); Vol. 10 No. 2 (2025): Indonesia J. Crim. L. Studies (November, 2025); 529-582</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2548-1576</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2548-1568</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.15294/ijcls.v10i2</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/ijcls/article/view/29702/6724</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2025 Indonesian Journal of Criminal Law Studies</dc:rights>
</oai_dc:dc>