Haris Azhar, S.H., M.A.

Founder & Advocate

As an attorney, he is also known as a senior activist for human rights issue, and a lecturer. His extensive knowledge and long experience in the legal world has made him an expert in handling various legal cases, both in criminal and civil, including in research projects. It’s been more than twenty years he is being actively spoken in many crucial law and social issues.

He joined KONTRAS, a well-known civil society, from 1999 to 2017 as an activist by carrying out various advocacy works as well as promoting other social issues. After his full assignment at KONTRAS, he founded LOKATARU Law and Human Rights Office in 2017, where its scope is in the legal services area. Haris then established his own firm, Haris Azhar Law Office (HA Law) since 2020 until today.

Work Records and Experience:

Among his interest related to human rights issue are in strategic litigation, rule of law, transitional justice, ASEAN, civic space, organization and corporate management, advocacy and mobilization, creative and art campaign, fact finding, corporate law, capital market, asset management, intellectual property rights, digital law, and many others.

Haris holds bachelor degree in Law from Trisakti University (1999) and master in Theory and Practice of Human Rights from Essex University (UK, 2009).

He took a postgraduate course on Philosophy in Indonesia University (2000-2003).

Among his participation in many trainings and conferences are “Standing with Civil Society” in USA 2014 by IVLP under The President Obama’ program;

“Antitorture for Strategic Litigation” in Argentine 2017 by OSF; “Business and Human Rights” in Switzerland 2013 by UN; and many others.

He was also awarded a fellowship on “Transitional Justice” in South Africa 2006; in 2015 The French Government awarded “International Future Leader Program”;

“Karma Yogi” in 2019 by Anand Ashram Foundation; along with KONTRAS as a Coordinator, awarded “Emilio Mignone Human Rights Prize Award” by The Argentine Ministry in 2012.

The national media awarded him “The New Generation is in Action” by I-Radio Jakarta 2014; and “The Best Activist Award” by I-News TV 2015.

We must have the courage to admit mistakes, dare to express, dare to open up so that everyone can learn from it

Haris Azhar

If one really wishes to know how justice is administered in a country, one does not question the policemen, the lawyers, the judges, or the protected members of the middle class.

Jacqueline Bretell3

If one really wishes to know how justice is administered in a country, one does not question the policemen, the lawyers, the judges, or the protected members of the middle class.

Jacqueline Bretell2