The delegation, led by Faizal Cahya Adhyaksa and including member Luna Ayuviani Prameswari, won third place in the National Legal Essay Competition at the UNJA Law Fair 6.0, held by the Faculty of Law at the University of Jambi in 2025. Under the overarching theme “Transforming Natural Resource Law to Achieve Progressive Justice,” the UGM team presented progressive ideas on integrating public participation into national law.
In their essay titled “Reconstructing the Substance of Laws through the Integration of the Principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) into National Law as a Solution to the Lack of Public Participation in Decision-Making That Impacts the Environment,” the UGM Faculty of Law delegation emphasized the urgency of applying the FPIC principle. This principle is viewed as an effective mechanism to ensure that the public, particularly local communities, can actively participate in every decision-making process directly related to natural resources and the environment.
Under the guidance of Dhea Praja Gupta as their coach, the UGM delegation successfully presented their work before the judging panel at the UNJA Law Fair 6.0 2025. The competition took place in two stages: the Document Screening Round from May 3 to June 8, 2025, held online; followed by the Final Round on June 24, 2025; and concluded with the Announcement of Winners on June 25, 2025, also held online.
The ideas put forward by the UGM Faculty of Law delegation are strongly aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Efforts to integrate the FPIC principle into national law support SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, by strengthening inclusive and accountable legal governance. Furthermore, the focus on environmental protection and community participation in natural resource management aligns with SDG 15: Life on Land and SDG 13: Climate Action. Moreover, recognizing the rights of local communities in decision-making also reinforces the principles of equality and community empowerment, in line with SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.
This achievement serves as tangible evidence of the Faculty of Law at Gadjah Mada University’s commitment to nurturing a young generation capable of generating innovative ideas, grounded in social justice, and contributing to sustainable development in Indonesia.
Author: Delegation of the Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FH UGM)
