Chief Justice Suhartoyo delivering a keynote speech and opening the event on Enhancing Understanding of Citizens' Constitutional Rights (PPHKWN) program for Indonesian Christian Youth Movement (GAMKI) on Monday (5/18/2026). Photo by MKRI/Fauzan.

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JAKARTA (MKRI) – The Constitutional Court (MK) organized an event on Enhancing Understanding of Citizens' Constitutional Rights ( PPHKWN ) for Indonesian Christian Youth Movement ( GAMKI ) from May 18 to June 5, 2026. Conducted online through the Constitutional Court Learning Center ( MKLC ) e-learning application, the program was attended by approximately 190 GAMKI participants across Indonesia, from Sumatra to East Nusa Tenggara and Papua.

In his remarks, GAMKI Chairman, Sahat Martin Philip Sinurat, expressed his appreciation to the Court for the opportunity to deepen their understanding of citizens' constitutional rights. He noted that GAMKI had previously collaborated with the Court on similar event and received strong enthusiasm from the participants.

"We are grateful and thankful to the Constitutional Court for this opportunity. Several years ago, we also organized a similar program with the Court with a large number of participants. Hopefully, this event will benefit the participants from various regions across Indonesia," he stated.

This event aimed to enhance public understanding of the constitutional rights guaranteed under the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, while also providing deeper insight into the mechanisms for protecting constitutional rights through the Constitutional Court. Furthermore, the event was intended to foster public legal awareness in order to strengthen the rule of law in Indonesia. Participants were introduced to the fundamental principles of citizens' constitutional rights, the mechanism for judicial review of laws against the 1945 Constitution, and the requirements for filing a judicial review to the Court.

Chief Justice Suhartoyo, in his keynote address and opening remarks, explained that the Court's authority to review laws against the 1945 Constitution is stipulated under Article 24C paragraph (1) of the Constitution. The Court has the authority to conduct formal and material judicial review of laws if it finds legal norms that violate citizens' constitutional rights. However, the Court cannot act on its own initiative because it adheres to the principle of passivity.

"The Constitutional Court cannot review laws without a petition from parties whose constitutional rights are deemed to have been violated," he explained.

Chief Justice Suhartoyo also encouraged participants to comprehensively understand the judicial review mechanism so they could exercise their constitutional rights if they encounter potentially detrimental legal norms. "If you find any norms that potentially violate or affect your constitutional rights, whether factually, actually, or potentially, such matters may be submitted to the Constitutional Court," he said.

Chief Justice Suhartoyo hopes the program would provide participants with a deeper perspective on the Constitution and encourage the public to actively safeguard the protection of citizens' constitutional rights.

In addition to serving as a constitutional education forum, the event also serves as part of efforts to promote Pancasila and the Constitution as mandated by the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas). Through these events, Court sought to reach various segments of society, including universities, civil society organizations, and youth organizations such as GAMKI, in order to strengthen public understanding of the Constitution as the foundation of national and state life.

Author              : Fauzan Febriyan.
Editor               : N. Rosi.
Translator         : N. Valentino Rahadityo/Donny Yuniarto

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.

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