Chevening scholar Alfiana has dedicated nearly a decade of her career to criminal justice reform and international human rights advocacy. She shares her plans for national and global initiatives that uphold dignity, fairness, and the rule of law for all.
Around the world arbitrary detention remains a pressing issue, with countless individuals imprisoned without legal basis or due process.
Over the past nine years, my work has spanned:
I’ve supported victims of arbitrary detention and contributed to legal opinions at the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. I’ve witnessed first-hand how systemic injustice continues to affect thousands, particularly in areas like the war on drugs.
I began my journey as a human rights lawyer giving legal assistance to those from poor and marginalised communities.
Eventually, I became a Strategy Manager for Criminal Justice Reform, in a development programme between the governments of Indonesia and Australia. I worked on reforms for fair trial standards, restorative justice, and high level drug policy change.
My expertise led me to contribute to arbitrary detention cases worldwide, analysing individual case complaints, applying international human rights law, and assisting in drafting opinions. I presented my research on the war on drugs and its link to arbitrary detention to the UN WGAD at the UN Headquarters in Geneva, emphasising the human cost of punitive policies.
My presentation exposed the real life human impact of policies, shaping the Working Group’s understanding and engagement.
The Chevening experience plays a transformative role in deepening my capacity to advocate for meaningful reform in criminal justice systems, both in Indonesia and on a global scale. I’m currently studying an LLM and serving as a Research Assistant at the Essex Law School in the UK, contributing to several research projects on drug policy and human rights in partnership with academics, UN agencies, and NGOs.
During my time here, I’ve co-chaired and co-organised the 17th Annual Human Rights in Asia Conference at the University of Essex, providing a crucial platform to examine the intersection of environmental justice, human rights, and forced migration in the region.
I’ve remained committed to advancing justice, ending arbitrary detention and ensuring human rights protections are upheld in both national and global systems.
Chevening empowers me to build on this foundation by gaining advanced academic training in international human rights law, criminal justice reform, and evidence-based policymaking at a leading UK university.
Equally important is the opportunity to be part of the Chevening global network, a diverse and dynamic community of changemakers. Chevening not only equips me with the tools I need to scale my impact, but connect me with a global network of allies committed to justice, accountability and human dignity.
After completing my studies in the UK, I plan to return to Indonesia and take on a leadership role in shaping criminal law and drug policy reform at both national and regional levels. I’ll work with civil society organisations, government bodies, and international partners to advocate for legislative changes that promote fair trial standards, reduce mass incarceration, and shift from punitive to restorative approaches.
Academically and professionally, I plan to build on my work as a Research Assistant. I hope to lead further evidence-based research that influences national and international policy, bringing the lived experiences of detainees into global conversations and reform processes.
I’ll continue engaging with international human rights bodies like the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, where I previously contributed through the Arbitrary Detention Redress Unit.
My goal is to strengthen advocacy at the UN level to hold governments accountable, promote country visits and support victims of unjust detention.
By combining strategic policy work, international advocacy, and community-rooted legal reform, I hope to drive sustainable change that upholds dignity, fairness, and the rule of law for all.
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