Oktober 16, 2009 - The National Strategy on Access to Justice, which was launched on October 16, 2009 will be integrated into National Medium Term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2010-2014. The basic idea is to provide social justice to all citizens with a focus on strengthening access to justice for poor and marginalized communities.
The launch at Bappenas was attended by related government and justice sector institutions, NGOs, donors, and media. During the launch, the then State Minister for National Development Planning/Chairperson of Bappenas, Paskah Suzzeta, stated that Strategy will be included in legal area of RPJMN. "In its implementation, I hope it will be integrated along with other national development policies, particularly on labor, land, natural resources and environment; policy on women, child protection, and regional development policy," he said.
The Strategy outlines eight themes on Access to Justice, namely legal and judicial reform, provision of legal assistance, local governance, land and natural resources, women, children, labor and the poor and marginalized. Under each theme challenges are identified along with a strategy and action plan identifying the role that relevant government, civil society and donor institutions can play.
The National Strategy was led by a Working Group on Access to Justice consisting of various stakeholders, namely central and local governments, universities, NGOs, international institutions, including representation from the World Bank's Justice for the Poor (J4P). The preparation was carried out in bottom up fashion involving as many stakeholders as possible through consultation forums at regional and national level.
Justice for the Poor supported the consultation process by providing Lessons learned based on experiences from legal empowerment initiatives supported by Justice for the Poor and community empowerment programs more broadly such as PNPM.
The National Strategy on Access to Justice has strategic importance for the overall development agenda in Indonesia as:
The Strategy integrates issues of justice and community empowerment and highlights the cross-sectoral nature of access to justice issues.
The Strategy emphasizes the importance of supporting economic, politics, and social rights for the poor and marginalized in Indonesia.
The drafting process was undertaken in parallel with the preparation of the next RPJMN so that recommendations could be integrated into the next Medium Term Development Plan.
The Strategy will also support harmonization and consolidation from various stakeholders, i.e., academics, NGOs, donors.
In his closing speech, the then Minister expressed his expectation, "I hope central and local governmentscan integrate the National Strategy on Access to Justice and their Action Plans to Regional Medium Term Development Plan (RPJMD). RPJMD can be integrated into annual Central and/or Local Government Action Plan," he concludes
The National Strategy on Access to Justice provides for a plan of action addressing eight key areas:
Legal and Judicial Reform Sector
Provision of Legal Aid
Local Governance
Land and Natural Resources
Gender issues
The rights of Children
Labour reform, and
Empowering the Poor and Disadvantaged.
