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Published December 6, 2025 | Version v1
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Bringing justice for transgender people: reforming rehabilitation policies in Indonesia's correctional system

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  • 1. Universitas Diponegoro, Jalan dr. Antonius Suroyo, Tembalang, Semarang.

Description

The execution of rehabilitation policies for transgender and transsexual prisoners within the Indonesian criminal justice system necessitates careful consideration from a human rights standpoint. While Law No. 22 of 2022 on Corrections outlines rehabilitation policies for offenders broadly, its execution has not effectively addressed the unique requirements of transgender individuals. The legal framework in Indonesia, rooted in a binary gender paradigm, frequently results in discriminatory practices and the oversight of transgender rights during rehabilitation in correctional facilities. The allocation of transgender inmates based exclusively on biological sex, while disregarding their identified gender identity, may lead to psychological distress and heighten the likelihood of violence. This underscores the necessity for correctional policy reforms that are more inclusive and grounded in human rights, ensuring a secure environment for transgender individuals to articulate their gender identity free from discrimination or violence. Correctional policies should incorporate risk assessments that take into account gender identity and ensure the availability of facilities that facilitate rehabilitation, including health services sensitive to gender and psychological support. The implementation of these reforms is designed to facilitate the achievement of rehabilitation objectives and to guarantee equitable treatment of transgender prisoners by their human rights.

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