The Indonesian Human Rights National Commission (Komnas HAM) was established on 7 June 1993 based on the Presidential Decree No.50 Year 1993 on the Indonesian Human Rights National Commission (Presidential Decree No.50/1993). The legal status of Komnas HAM was subsequently strengthened through the Act No.39 Year 1999 on Human Rights (Act No.39/1999). According to article 1 point 7 of the Act No.39/1999, Komnas HAM is an "independent institutions, of an equal level to other state institutions and which holds the functions of carrying out research and study, education, monitoring and mediation of human rights."

With stronger legal bases, Komnas HAM should optimally perform its functions in order to accomplish its aims stated in the Act No.39/1999: a) to develop conditions conducive to the implementation of human rights in accordance with pancasila, the 1945 Constitution, the United Nations Charter and the Declaration of Human Rights; and b) to enhance the protection and upholding of human rights for the personal development of indonesian as human beings in their entirety and their ability to participate in various aspects of life. The mandates of Komnas HAM to facilitate those aims are research and study, education, monitoring and mediation of human rights. The Act No.39/1999 also provides Komnas HAM with sub-poena power in order to resolve cases of human rights violations.

Komnas HAM power also increased with the enactment of the Act No.26 Year 2000 of Human Rights Court (Act No.26/2000). This Act has appointed Komnas HAM as the only institution to have the mandate to carry out inquiries of gross human rights violations, whivh according to the Act No.26/2000 consist of genocide and crimes against humanity.

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