Legal Aid Institute (Jakarta)

The Legal Aid Institute Jakarta, also known as Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Jakarta (LBH Jakarta), is Indonesia's first legal aid non-government organization.[1] LBH Jakarta seeks to provide legal aid for the poor, aiding with law illiteracy, and suppressed peoples. LBH was established in 1969 in the city of Jakarta as the first LBH of what would eventually become multiple LBH offices around the country. It was not until 1970, with the support of PERADIN and the Provincial government of Jakarta, that LBH officially began commencing in operations. After the establishment of the YLBHI, which also operates out of Jakarta, the LBH located in Jakarta became the legal aid institute for the city.[2]

Now working under the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), which has 15 LBH branches throughout Indonesia, the Legal Aid Institute of Jakarta operates based on the principle of Structural Legal Aid. Currently, YLBHI acts as the central umbrella in Jakarta for all of the regional LBH branches throughout Indonesia, it is currently led by Asfinawati as Chairman of Board and Nursyahbani Katjasungkana as the board of trustees.

LBH Jakarta acts heavily in accordance with 'rule of law', a principle entrenched in Indonesia's constitution.[3] Due to its historical influence, predominantly during the post-Suharto era, it is regarded by some as an institution that works with cases that have the ability of serving justice, but also further the aim of better developing political rationales.[1]

In 2017, LBH Jakarta received over 19,000 cases from justice seekers. These cases ranged from involving city and urban issues, labor issues and family issues. In addition they received hundreds of reports dealing with civil society and political concerns, human rights, and women and children issues.[4]

  1. ^ a b Lindsey, Time; Crouch, Melissa (2013). "Cause Lawyers in Indonesia: A House Divided". Wisconsin International Law Journal. 31: 620–645 – via Academic Search Complete.
  2. ^ "LBH Jakarta | Jakarta Legal Aid Institute". LBH Jakarta. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  3. ^ "Rule of Law & Human Rights | Human Rights in ASEAN". humanrightsinasean.info. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  4. ^ "Urban problems worsening this year: LBH Jakarta". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved May 6, 2018.