The law plays an important role in maintaining and realizing social justice in Indonesia. Social justice, as stated in the fifth principle of Pancasila, means that every citizen has the right to equal treatment, access to resources, and guaranteed protection of basic rights. The law is the main instrument to ensure that these principles are realized in the practice of community life.
One of the main functions of the law in maintaining social justice is as a tool to protect individual rights, especially for vulnerable groups. Through laws, the state regulates how each individual is treated fairly, regardless of their social, economic, or political background. For example, Law No. 39 of 1999 concerning Human Rights, which guarantees the basic rights of every citizen without discrimination.
In addition, the law also plays a role in regulating the distribution of economic resources fairly. Regulations regarding land, employment, and taxes are some examples of where the law is used to regulate access and distribution of resources so that there is no sharp gap between the rich and the poor. In this regard, the law helps prevent economic monopolies and protects the rights of workers, who are often victims of injustice in an unequal economic system.
The law also plays an important role in creating a fair and transparent justice system. Through ongoing judicial reform, Indonesia strives to ensure that every individual facing the legal process is treated equally before the law. Principles such as “equality before the law” are the foundation for maintaining social justice in the justice system.
However, although the law has great potential to maintain social justice, its implementation in Indonesia still faces various challenges. Corruption, abuse of authority, and low law enforcement are often obstacles to realizing ideal social justice. Therefore, a strong commitment is needed from all elements of society, including law enforcement officers, to truly enforce just laws.
Overall, the law serves as a basic framework for maintaining social justice in Indonesia. With a strong legal system and consistent enforcement, the goals of social justice as mandated by the constitution can be more easily realized.