Chief Justice Anwar Usman closing 5th Congress of the World Conference on Constitutional Justice (WCCJ), Thursday (10/6/2022) in Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center, Bali. Photo by MKRI/Ifa.
Thursday, October 6, 2022 | 18:48 WIB
BALI (MKRI)—The ideas and opinions expressed during the 5th Congress of the World Conference on Constitutional Justice (WCCJ) are expected to expand the knowledge and insight of the delegates regarding providing adequate guarantee and protection for basic rights in every nation. This hope was conveyed by the Chief Justice Anwar Usman of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia (MKRI), who officially concluded the Congress on Thursday, October 6, 2022 at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC), Bali.
Justice Anwar said that for three days, a series of meetings and discussions have been held: regional meetings—the meetings of the Association of Asian Constitutional Courts and Equivalent Institutions (AACC), the Conference of Constitutional Jurisdictions of Africa (CCJA), the Association of Francophone Constitutional Courts (ACCF), the Ibero-American Conference of Constitutional Justice (CIJC), the Southern African Chief Justice Forum (SACJF), the Conference of European Constitutional Courts (CECC), the Union of the Arab Constitutional Councils and Courts (UACCC), the Eurasian Association of Constitutional Review Bodies (EACRB) )—and interregional meetings between the AACC and the CCJA, as well as bilateral meetings.
He added that the main event, the Congress on “Constitutional Justice and Peace,” took place in five sessions with separate subthemes: resources and jurisdiction; application; limitation of the role of the constitutional court in maintaining peace; fundamental principles in protecting human rights, democracy, and the law to bring about peace; and an inventory of the judicial independence of WCCJ members.
“In the program, other events were held in parallel [to the Congress]: the 5th Indonesian Constitutional Court International Symposium (ICCIS) on ‘Constitutional Court and Conflict Resolution,’ and a short course on ‘Peace, Election, and Democracy’ for legal officers,” he said.
Also read:
President Joko Widodo Inaugurates 5th Congress of WCCJ
Constitutional Courts Play Key Role in Ensuring Rule of Law, Foreign Minister Says
Chief Justice Anwar also said that the WCCJ members had also discussed and agreed on the draft of the AACC-CCJA Joint Conference and the Bali Communique. He mentioned that the 5th Congress of the WCCJ was one of the MKRI’s commitment to developing dialogue between fellow constitutional justice institutions. It was also expected to open academic discourse on law and constitution between the MKRI and constitutional judicial institutions, academics, and practitioners from various countries in the world.
“Constitutional judicial institutions should balance the roles of other state institutions and oversee the implementation of the principles of constitutional supremacy and the protection of the citizens’ constitutional rights. Therefore, the MKRI initiated the discourse on the constitutional supremacy index so that we all have a universal benchmark or parameter of compliance and implementation of the constitution. The discourse on constitutional supremacy index, of course, does not have to be finalized at this meeting, but at least it is a discourse that we should reflect on and consider in the future,” he asserted.
Also read: 5th WCCJ Congress Discusses Roles of Constitutional Court in Maintaining Peace
The 5th Congress of the WCCJ, which takes place on October 5-6, 2022, was inaugurated by President Joko Widodo on October 5. The WCCJ Bureau chose “Constitutional Justice and Peace” as the main theme of this year’s congress because constitutional courts in some countries have key roles in seeking peace after armed conflict within the country. In addition, several national constitutions explicitly mention peace and reconciliation as the goals that they want to achieve.
The 5th Congress of the WCCJ is the highest-level international forum on the constitutional jurisdictions, considering that 119 countries are members of the WCCJ as per 2022. In addition to being a forum for discussion, exchange of ideas, sharing of experiences and best practices among WCCJ members, this Congress is one of the MKRI’s efforts to improve the quality of its decisions as well as an opportunity to further strengthen Indonesia’s position as a constitutional democracy based on the ideology of the five precepts of Pancasila.
At the same time, the Constitutional Court also holds the 5th Indonesian Constitutional Court International Symposium (ICCIS) on October 5-7, 2022 under the theme of “Constitutional Court and Conflict Resolution.” Constitutional Justice Suhartoyo is slated to deliver the opening remarks, followed by a keynote lecture from Constitutional Justice Saldi Isra. In the ICCIS, 15 speakers from various countries are scheduled to present their perspective and views related to the themes. Accordingly, the ICCIS will conclude with closing remarks by Constitutional Justice Daniel Yusmic Pancastaki Foekh.
Writer : Ilham Wiryadi
Editor : Lulu Anjarsari P.
Translator : Ayu Wulandari
Editor : Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)
Translation uploaded on 10/7/2022 14:43 WIB
Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian versions, the Indonesian version will prevail.
Thursday, October 06, 2022 | 18:48 WIB 712