The Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) was initially established by Presidential Decree on 7 June 1993. In 1999, the legal foundation of the Commission was re-established after legislation passed the Indonesian House of Representatives (Law Number 39 of 1999 Concerning Human Rights).

Komnas HAM has a mandate to:

~ Conduct human rights education and disseminate information about human rights at the national and international level

~ Monitor international treaties on human rights that the Commission may propose to the government for their ratification or accession

~ Monitor and investigate the implementation of human rights, and in consequence of which to extend its opinion, consideration and proposal to the related government agencies in order to continuously improve the observance of human rights

~ Cooperate with regional and international agencies for the continuous protection of human rights.

Komnas HAM has a series of sub-committees which focus on human rights education and promotion; law reform and international treaties; human rights monitoring and implementation; and complaints and mediation.