Profile

Abdul Haris Semendawai (born 28 September 1984) is an Indonesian lawyer and academic. He currently serves as a member and Vice Chair of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komisi Nasional Hak Asasi Manusia – Komnas HAM) for the 2022–2027 term. He previously served as the Chairperson of the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (Lembaga Perlindungan Saksi dan Korban – LPSK) for two consecutive terms (2008–2013 and 2013–2018).

Academic Background

Abdul Haris Semendawai obtained his Bachelor of Law (LL.B.) from the Faculty of Law, Universitas Islam Indonesia, Yogyakarta, in 1991. He later earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the Northwestern University School of Law in 2004. In 2017, he completed his Doctoral degree (Ph.D. in Law) at Universitas Muslim Indonesia.

Carrier

Abdul Haris Semendawai began his professional career as a Coordinator at the Institute for the Study of Community Rights in Yogyakarta, where he served from 1990 to 1992. He subsequently worked as a practicing lawyer from 1992 to 1998. In 1998, he was appointed Deputy Director of the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM) in Jakarta, a position he held until 2008. Since 2018, he has also served as a lecturer at Universitas Islam Asy-Syafiiyah, Jakarta. From 2019 to 2020, he worked as an advocate for the Directorate General of Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. He later practiced as an advocate at RIFA Lawfirm from 2021 to 2022. Abdul Haris Semendawai was appointed as one of the seven commissioners of the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) for the 2008–2013 period by the President of Indonesia and was elected as its Chairperson. He was subsequently reappointed and served a second term as Chairperson from 2013 to 2018. In 2022, he was elected as one of the nine commissioners of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) for the 2022–2027 term, where he currently serves as Vice Chair.