Condom use in Indonesia: Interplay with societal norms and human rights

Indonesia faces significant challenges in advancing condom utilization initiatives due to the absence of explicit support from religious institutions. This has complicated HIV/AIDS prevention strategies, particularly adolescent contraceptives provision under Government Regulation No. 28 of 2024. The Indonesian Ulema Council’s opposition to these provisions, based on Islamic principles, contrasts with governmental health objectives aimed at reducing early marriage, infant mortality, and stunting. Despite the country’s commitment to fighting HIV, the epidemic remains critical, with sexual transmission accounting for the majority of new infections. Vulnerable groups – including adolescents, men who have sex with men, transgender individuals, and sex workers – are disproportionately affected by stigma, discrimination, and limited access to health services. This commentary argues that Indonesia’s regulatory framework subordinates’ constitutional health guarantees to moral enforcement, creating institutional barriers that compromise reproductive rights. It calls for legal reforms to decriminalise consensual extramarital relations, ensure universal condom distribution, and implement comprehensive sexuality education, alongside destigmatisation campaigns and mandatory training for healthcare providers to address implicit bias. By recognizing condoms as a human right and dismantling socio-legal barriers, Indonesia can create an inclusive, health-focused framework that empowers informed sexual health decisions. These reforms are essential for addressing the HIV epidemic and promoting reproductive autonomy in Indonesia.