Profile
KontraS Federation
KontraS was initially established in Jakarta on 20 March 1998 as an ad hoc task force formed by a number of civil society organizations and public figures. It originated from the Independent Commission for Monitoring Human Rights Violations (KIP-HAM), which had been established in 1996 to monitor human rights issues.
KIP-HAM received numerous complaints and submissions from members of the public, including victims and individuals reporting human rights violations in various regions. Initially, complaints were submitted primarily through letters and telephone communications. Over time, victims increasingly reported cases directly to the KIP-HAM secretariat. In the course of consultations with victims, the need emerged to establish a dedicated body to address cases of enforced disappearance, in response to persistent patterns of violence resulting in significant numbers of victims. The proposal to establish such a body was put forward by Tuti Koto, leading to the creation of a commission mandated to address enforced disappearances and other acts of violence, subsequently known as KontraS.
In its subsequent development, KontraS expanded its mandate beyond cases of abduction and enforced disappearance. It has been engaged by victims of human rights violations to address a wide range of abuses, including those arising from State repression as well as horizontal conflicts. In several regions, affected communities requested the establishment of local KontraS offices to enable more effective assistance, protection, and advocacy.