Aceh Sharia Court pioneers gender equity

Jakarta | badilag.net/english (6/11)

Mahkamah Syar’iyah Aceh (Aceh Sharia Court) published a book entitled “A Compilation of References for Standardized Evaluation for Judges in Implementing Gender Sensitivity at Aceh Sharia Court.” This publication emerges as a response to the absence of a clear measurement in implementing gender equity in courts. 

Prof. Rusjdi Ali Muhammad, editor of the book, said the book was hoped to open judges’ insight in implementing gender equity when, particularly, examining family law cases. Prof. Rusjdi along with the writers of the book were among the delegates led by Chief Judge of Aceh Sharia Court, M. Saleh Puteh, that paid an official visit to Badilag last Friday (6/11).

Director General for Badilag, Wahyu Widiana, highly appreciates the publication of the book, saying that despite its local value -the book is written based on judges personal experiences at Sharia Courts-, the book can be a reference/guidance for other judges at Religious Courts throughout Indonesia.

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“If Aceh has made considerable changes (pertaining to gender equity), then other regions should take example of those changes,” Wahyu said.

The book was sponsored by The Asia Foundation and World Bank. Lies Marcoes-Natsir, Senior Program Officer of The Asia Foundation, said the publication of the book is among three main programs conducted in Aceh. The two other programs are Mediation Training and Judges Go-to-villages program. (hermansyah/choliluna)