The legal debate delegation from the Speech and Law Debate Society (SPECIALITY) at the Faculty of Law, Gadjah Mada University, has once again achieved a proud accomplishment by securing second place in the 2025 Sunan Gunung Djati Law Fair (SGDLF) National Student Legal Debate Competition. The competition centered on the overarching theme “The Paradigm of Development Law in Realizing Constitutional Justice in Indonesia” and was organized by the Law Department Student Association (HMJ-IH), the Student Research and Debate Institute (LKDM), and the Moot Court Institute (LPS) at UIN Sunan Gunung Djati.
The SPECIALITY FH UGM delegation consisted of three students: I Gusti Ayu Diah Witari (FH 2023), Karina Damayora (FH 2024), and Avarell Hutomo Sebastian (FH 2024). These three students successfully demonstrated outstanding performance from the start through to the final round through sharp legal arguments, in-depth analysis, and solid debate strategies.
The competition series consisted of four main stages: the preliminary round, the quarterfinals, the semifinals, and the finals. The preliminary round was held online on Tuesday (July 8, 2025) via Zoom Cloud Meetings. In this stage, SPECIALITY was placed in Chamber D and participated in two matches against teams from other universities in a pro-con format determined at random. The FH UGM delegation secured the highest number of points, ensuring their advancement to the quarterfinals.
The quarterfinals were held online on Thursday, July 10, 2025. During the event, SPECIALITY faced one of the top-seeded teams from another chamber in a debate on the issue of fossil fuel subsidies. Through structured arguments and critical responses, SPECIALITY successfully won the debate and advanced to the semifinals.
Subsequently, the semifinal and final rounds were held in person at the Faculty of Sharia and Law, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati, from Monday (July 14, 2025) through Tuesday (July 15, 2025). In the semifinals, SPECIALITY delivered a convincing performance, securing the highest score. On the same day, the UGM delegation continued its run in the finals. Despite facing a formidable opponent, SPECIALITY maintained the quality of its performance and ultimately secured second place in the national law debate competition.
This achievement further underscores the consistency and commitment of SPECIALITY FH UGM in producing outstanding law students, not only in theoretical understanding but also in the ability to argue, think critically, and hone public speaking skills. This accomplishment also demonstrates how the legal debate community plays a tangible role in shaping a generation of young jurists ready to compete at both the national and international levels.
The success of the SPECIALITY FH UGM delegation in this legal debate competition aligns with the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through their participation and achievements, the students contribute to SDG 4 on Quality Education by developing their academic capacity, critical thinking skills, and mastery of applied legal knowledge. Furthermore, the theme addressed in the competition is closely tied to SDG 16 on Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, as it explores fundamental issues regarding legal development grounded in constitutional justice. This event also reflects the implementation of SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals through collaboration among students, faculty advisors, and the organizing institution, all of whom are committed to fostering a productive space for legal discourse.
Author: Delegation of the Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FH UGM)
