The Faculty of Law at Gadjah Mada University (FH UGM) has once again expanded its ranks of full professors with the installation of Prof. Dr. Hartini, S.H., M.Si., as Full Professor of Dispute Resolution in Islamic Law. The installation ceremony was held at the Gadjah Mada University Auditorium on Thursday (October 30, 2025) and was attended by Prof. Hartini’s colleagues, friends, and extended family.
In her inaugural address titled “Modifying the No-Fault Divorce Model in Indonesian Religious Court Procedural Law,” Prof. Hartini highlighted the importance of updating the approach to resolving divorce cases within the religious court system.
Prof. Hartini recommends that Religious Courts pay greater attention to child custody issues following divorce by prioritizing the principle of the best interests of the child. This approach is considered to be in line with the commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions, through a judicial system that is more equitable and oriented toward the protection of vulnerable groups.
Furthermore, this initiative also contributes to SDG 5 on gender equality and SDG 10 on reducing inequalities by promoting a more equitable and non-discriminatory divorce process that respects the rights of women and children within the Islamic family law system.
On the same occasion, Prof. Dr. Muh. Baiquni, M.P.P., as Chair of the UGM Board of Professors, noted that Prof. Hartini is one of 542 active full professors at Gadjah Mada University. At the faculty level, Prof. Hartini is listed as one of 16 active full professors out of a total of 27 full professors the UGM Faculty of Law has ever had.
This investiture is not only an academic achievement for Prof. Hartini personally but also strengthens the Faculty of Law’s contribution to the development of Islamic legal scholarship, particularly in reforming religious court procedures to ensure fairness and a child-protection orientation. Prof. Hartini’s appointment underscores the UGM Faculty of Law’s role in supporting the achievement of the SDGs through the development of legal scholarship that is responsive to social issues, as well as strengthening the contribution of academics in promoting a religious court system that is more humane, just, and aligned with the best interests of the child.
