THE EXISTENCE OF CUSTOMARY LAW IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND ITS CHALLENGES IN HARMONIZING NATIONAL LAW
Keywords:
Customary Law, National Legal System, Preservation of Customary Law, International RecognitionAbstract
This study aims to examine the existence of customary law as part of the global and national legal system, and to examine the extent of its implementation in the Indonesian context. Using a normative research method through a library research approach, analysis was conducted on various legal documents, academic journals, and international case studies from countries such as Canada, Bolivia, Colombia, and South Africa. The results of the study show that at the international level, customary law has experienced a strengthening position through international declarations such as UNDRIP and institutional integration in various countries. In Indonesia, although customary law is constitutionally recognized in the 1945 Constitution, the reality of its implementation is still weak and normative, because it has not been accompanied by institutional and administrative strengthening. Many indigenous communities still face obstacles in gaining formal recognition of their territories and legal systems. This study has an impact on legal advocacy efforts and public policy by emphasizing the need for evidence-based interventions involving cross-sector actors. These findings also support the need to develop a pluralistic, inclusive, and local wisdom-based national legal system to present contextual justice in a multicultural society like Indonesia
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