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In 2020, mixed-nationality families more eager to push for dual citizenship
Mixed-marriage families expect lawmakers to revise the Citizenship Law so that children and spouses can have dual citizeship.
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Children proudly hold the flags of their nationalities at an event to commemorate a decade since the 2006 Citizenship Law at the Law and Human Rights Ministry. By law, children from mixed-nationality marriages are allowed to hold both of their parents' citizenships until they turn 21, when they have to choose one nationality. (JP/Liza Yosephine)
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ixed-nationality families under the Aliansi Pelangi Antar Bangsa (APAB) aim to be more assertive this year in pushing the House of Representatives to revise the 2006 Citizenship Law and list it in next year’s National Legislation Program (Prolegnas), so that members of mixed families can obtain dual nationality.
APAB head Nia Schumacher said the urge to push for a revision was based on the House’s decision to incorporate the amendment of Citizenship Law in its 2020-2024 Prolegnas during the House’s plenary session on Dec. 17, 2019, along with another 247 bills on the list.
She also urged the House to expedite the deliberation of the bill as there had been no significant progress by lawmakers in following up on the call for dual citizenship, which the organization had demanded since 2002.
To persuade lawmakers to finally revise the law next year, the organization plans to hold meetings with nine factions at the House as well as prepare an academic study on the importance of dual citizenship for mixed families.
She also said that the organization would more frequently organize seminars in a bid to promote a revision of the law by the government and the House.
“We have plans for several agendas this year to push the House to include the revision of the Citizenship Law in next year’s Prolegnas,” Nia said during a webinar recently.
“But we’re not urging the House to make dual citizenship available for everyone. We only demand dual citizenship for spouses who have been married to Indonesians for at least 10 years and for the children of mixed marriages, as those two groups often struggle to get recognition from the country,” she added.
