Strengthening Access to Justice for Victims through Civil Procedural Law Reform in Indonesia

Abstract

Victims seeking remedies through civil litigation often encounter significant barriers that limit their ability to obtain effective legal protection and fair dispute resolution. These barriers include high litigation costs, complex procedural requirements, lengthy judicial proceedings, unequal access to legal representation, and limited legal literacy among the public. This paper aims to examine the challenges faced by victims in accessing justice within the framework of Indonesian civil procedural law and to analyze reform measures that may strengthen the realization of victims’ rights. Using a normative legal research method, this study analyzes relevant legislation, legal doctrines, and scholarly literature concerning access to justice and civil procedure. The findings indicate that obstacles to access to justice are not solely legal in nature but are also influenced by economic, social, technological, and institutional factors. To address these challenges, comprehensive reforms are required, including the simplification of procedural rules, the expansion of legal aid services, the strengthening of mediation mechanisms, the enhancement of judicial digitalization through e-Court and e-Litigation systems, and the improvement of public legal literacy. These measures are essential to creating a more accessible, efficient, inclusive, and victim-oriented civil justice system. Ultimately, strengthening access to justice through civil procedural law reform is necessary to ensure that victims can effectively enforce their rights and obtain substantive justice.