LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT IN HANDLING REFUGEES THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH UNHCR

Indonesia, despite not being a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol, has become a key transit country for refugees due to its strategic geographical position. In response to humanitarian challenges, the Government of Indonesia has developed cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide legal protection and essential services for refugees. This research aims to examine the legal responsibilities of the Indonesian government in refugee handling through collaboration with UNHCR, analyzing both domestic and international legal frameworks. Utilizing a normative juridical method, this paper explores the regulatory basis, implementation practices, and legal challenges in Indonesia’s refugee management policy. Findings indicate that, despite the absence of ratified international refugee instruments, Indonesia upholds key legal principles such as non-refoulement and delegates refugee status determination to UNHCR under Presidential Regulation No. 125 of 2016. The collaboration facilitates essential protection mechanisms, but significant legal and institutional limitations persist.