Building the case for a disability-inclusive justice system

YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia — The Wonosari district court in Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, looks just like any government office in Indonesia. Reception tables greet visitors upon entry, and multiple rooms populate the first floor.

But according to Husnul Khotimah, head of the district court, theirs is a slightly improved version of a standard government space. A ramp allows wheelchair users to easily access the building. The court has also conducted some training sessions for all of its staff on sign language and disability awareness.

Join Devex on the ground in Yogyakarta as we capture the early successes and outstanding challenges in making a more disability-inclusive justice system in Indonesia.

Khotimah has become somewhat of a disability champion herself, after participating in a trial involving a person with a disability. She has worked to show her colleagues in the profession what can be done to increase the court’s accessibility to people with disabilities and ensure they receive a fair trial.

The Wonosari district court setup should be replicated in all courts in Indonesia, ideally. Advocates for disability inclusion are working to build the capacity of the justice system to accommodate the legal needs of people with disabilities.

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Editor's note: The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade facilitated Devex's travel for this reporting. However, Devex maintains full editorial control of the content.

For more coverage on creating a disability-inclusive world, visit the Development Enabled series here.