Tuesday, May 5, 2026 — Focus Group Discussion (FGD) between the Research and Community Service Institute of Universitas Negeri Semarang (LPPM UNNES) and the Secretariat General of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (Setjen DPR RI) was held on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen the substance of the Draft Law on the Second Amendment to Law Number 23 of 2006 concerning Population Administration. The activity reflected a collaborative initiative between academia and legislative institutions to formulate policies grounded in scientific research, public needs, and the rapid development of information technology.
The event began with opening remarks from Novianto Murti Hantoro, S.H., M.H., Head of the Center for Legislative Drafting on Political, Legal, and Human Rights Affairs, Agency for Parliamentary Expertise of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia. The FGD was officially opened by the Chair of LPPM UNNES, Prof. Dr. R. Benny Riyanto, S.H., M.Hum., CN. The event also featured the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Center for Legislative Drafting on Political, Legal, and Human Rights Affairs, Agency for Parliamentary Expertise of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia and LPPM UNNES as a concrete step toward strengthening institutional synergy in research, policy studies, and policy development. The agreement is expected to serve as a foundation for more structured and sustainable collaboration, particularly in supporting the preparation of academic papers, legislative studies, and policy recommendations.
The FGD featured two main speakers, Prof. Dr. R. Benny Riyanto, S.H., M.Hum., CN., and Prof. Dr. Rofi Wahanisa, S.H., M.H., alongside expert respondents from academia and various stakeholders specializing in law, information technology, and public governance. During the discussion session, participants highlighted several important issues, including the need to strengthen personal data protection, prevent the misuse of digital identities, and improve inter-agency coordination systems. Participants also emphasized the importance of harmonizing the proposed regulation with other related laws and regulations to ensure that the legal framework can be effectively implemented and aligned within the broader legal system.
The activity also demonstrated the significant role of higher education institutions in supporting a more transparent and research-based legislative process. Through academic research and expert contributions, universities help ensure that the resulting regulations are not only comprehensive and high-quality, but also capable of addressing real societal needs.
Through the implementation of the FGD and the signing of the cooperation agreement, it is expected that the partnership between the Center for Legislative Drafting on Political, Legal, and Human Rights Affairs, Agency for Parliamentary Expertise of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia and Universitas Negeri Semarang will continue to strengthen in support of a secure, reliable, and equitable national population identity system. The collaboration represents a shared commitment to advancing more effective public policies that are adaptive to technological developments and beneficial to society. (R)