Poverty remains a major issue in Indonesia, not only in economic terms but also in access to justice. People with low incomes often face limitations in meeting basic needs and challenges in securing their legal rights.
“Poverty is not just about lacking food, clothing, and shelter, but also limited access to justice,” said human rights activist Haris Azhar during the Tarawih lecture at UGM Campus Mosque on Monday, Mar. 17, 2025.
He explained that poor communities are often trapped in situations that leave them powerless.
Thus, they rely on those who control the distribution of resources, including access to knowledge and legal protection.
Azhar, who is also the founder of Lokananta, highlighted that Indonesia’s positivist legal system tends to criminalize low-income citizens when they defend their rights after falling victim to policies, such as in cases involving National Strategic Projects (PSN).
“Those affected often protest, which is then treated as a legal dispute and can lead to criminal actions or, worse, they are criminalized,” he explained.
In the context of access to justice, Azhar criticized the uneven distribution of the state’s multi-billion legal aid funds.
He referred to a 2019 survey by an international organization that showed a significant percentage of legal aid availability, but it still did not ensure 100% access to justice for the poor.
This is partly because legal aid organizations, funded by the state, are often mired in their own administrative and bureaucratic issues.
“This shows that the state has not successfully ensured legal aid availability for the poor when they face injustice. Fortunately, some social organizations are still providing this legal assistance,” he said.
Furthermore, Azhar pointed out that the poor not only face legal challenges but also welfare-related ones.
Inequality in access to education and employment often makes them more dependent on authoritative groups.
“This dependency creates fear. Even when some dare to resist, they remain in an unequal position,” the activist noted.
Concluding his talk, Azhar emphasized the importance of raising awareness about broader justice in society.
“We can’t solely rely on the state. There needs to be an initiative to build a justice structure for the people. That way, the state can learn and start improving,” he concluded.
Author: Bolivia
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang
Photograph by: Detik