The Center for the Study of Law, Gender, and Society (LGS) at the Faculty of Law, Gadjah Mada University (FH UGM) once again demonstrated its active role in raising relevant social issues by hosting a Legal Public Discussion (LPD) titled “The Indigenous Women’s Movement in South Papua.” The event took place in Room 3.1.1 at FH UGM on Thursday, September 18, 2025. The LPD was attended by approximately 100 participants, including FH UGM students, LGS volunteers, interdisciplinary faculty members, researchers, the UGM academic community, and members of the general public.
This public discussion was held to explore in depth how the indigenous women’s movement, particularly in South Papua, plays a vital and context-specific role in advocating for social justice amid the structural challenges they face.
As the keynote speaker, Dr. Godefridus Samderubun, S.S., M.Si., a lecturer in Public Administration at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Musamus University in Merauke, shared the results of his research and his firsthand experiences in supporting and observing indigenous women’s movements in the region. His presentation highlighted the social and political dynamics surrounding the struggles of indigenous women, as well as the challenges they face in advocating for their communities’ rights.
In response to the presentation, two interdisciplinary scholars served as discussants: Dr. Laksmi Adriani Savitri, M.Si., a lecturer in anthropology at the Faculty of Humanities (FIB) UGM, and Dr. Sartika Intaning Pradhani, S.H., M.H., a lecturer in customary law at the Faculty of Law (FH) UGM. Both offered critical reflections on the role of academics and research centers in fostering solidarity with women’s movements and indigenous communities. The discussion was lively, interactive, and enriched participants’ understanding of the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to issues of gender and social justice.
In this forum, participants were invited to explore new possibilities for understanding indigenous women’s movements, building broader solidarity, and creating opportunities for collaboration among academics, students, and grassroots communities.
This LPD has three main objectives. First, to understand the role of the indigenous women’s movement in South Papua in addressing social issues within the community, as well as the challenges they face; second, to create opportunities for collaboration to strengthen movements that promote progress and peace; and third, to introduce LGS as a research center focused on issues affecting women and vulnerable communities to the academic community of the UGM Faculty of Law and the broader public.
This event serves as tangible evidence of the commitment of the UGM Faculty of Law, particularly through LGS, to strengthening the implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education—not only in the fields of education and research but also in socially and culturally relevant community service. The “Legal Public Discussion: Indigenous Women’s Movement in South Papua,” organized by LGS at the UGM Faculty of Law, is closely aligned with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). First, this event supports SDG 5: Gender Equality, by highlighting the struggles of indigenous women in advocating for their social, cultural, and political rights amid structural discrimination. Second, this discussion relates to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, as it addresses the issue of the marginalization of indigenous communities while promoting recognition of their rights within the framework of national law and policy. Third, this event contributes to SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, through efforts to foster a more inclusive, participatory, and democratic understanding of the law and social justice. Finally, the holding of this forum also reflects the implementation of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, by fostering interdisciplinary and cross-faculty collaboration, as well as networking among academics, students, researchers, and grassroots communities to foster broader solidarity.
