DG of Badilag, Wahyu Widiana:
Prodeo, Circuit Court and Legal Aid to Become the Focus
Poor women and the marginalized must have broader access to justices. (photo: Providing Justice to the Justice Seeker)
Jakarta | badilag.net/english
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has issued a Presidential Instruction (Inpres) No. 3/2010 dated 21 April 2010 on Fair Development Program. One focus of the Inpres is on securing access for poor women and the marginalized on their family legal matters.
The Inpres is the result of the President’s coordinating meeting with governors across Indonesia and all ministers of the cabinet including Director General of Badilag, Wahyu Widiana, the only participant from the judiciary.
President mentions three steps that must be taken to guarantee the poor women and marginalized to have access on their family legal matters; waiving court fees (prodeo procedure), providing free legal aid, and holding circuit courts. Coordinator Minister for Politics, Law, and Security, who is appointed as the program coordinator, is ordered to coordinate with the Supreme Court.
.DG of Badilag, Wahyu Widiana, enthusiastically welcomes the issuance of the Inpres, saying that Religious Courts have to actively respond to this Inpres since the access to justice for poor people has long become the Supreme Court’s big concern.
“Religious Courts must take every effort to guarantee the access to justice for the poor. Don’t hesitate to serve them. We should be active in providing the services by collaborating with other institutions,” Wahyu said.
“There will be an increase in the budget for prodeo and circuit court in 2011. There will also be a budget for legal aid in every court next year. I hope this budget can help us improve the service for the poor,” he added.