Yusril: Law Cannot Be Separated from Human Life

The Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Affairs, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, stated that law is never truly separate from human life.

Yusril emphasised that law always exists between power and freedom, between economic interests and justice, and between the state and its citizens. “Therefore, law must not merely become the technical language of power, an instrument for market legitimacy, or a mere procedure devoid of the spirit of justice,” Yusril said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

These remarks were delivered by Yusril during the 23rd Annual Conference of the Asian Law Institute (ASLI) at the University of Indonesia, Depok, West Java, on Thursday. He also stressed the importance of a legal framework that is just, sustainable, and capable of addressing challenges through the strengthening of regional cooperation.

Yusril expressed his appreciation to the Asian Law Institute and the Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia, for organising the conference. According to him, the two-day event serves not only as a gathering for legal academics from various countries but also as a space for exchanging experiences, ideas, and perspectives regarding the future of law in Asia.

The 23rd ASLI Conference carries the theme ‘Empowering Asia’s Rise: Legal Knowledge for Sustainability, Justice and Regional Integration.’ Yusril noted that this theme is highly relevant to the challenges currently facing the Asian region, particularly in ensuring that development proceeds in alignment with environmental sustainability, the protection of human dignity, and regional cooperation.

“Asia possesses a rich history and legal tradition. Before the arrival of modern Western law, Asian societies were already acquainted with norms, customs, religious laws, royal laws, commercial laws, and dispute resolution mechanisms,” he remarked.

Furthermore, he highlighted three primary issues focused on by the conference: sustainability, justice, and regional integration. Regarding sustainability, Yusril stated that law must act as a bridge between today’s developmental needs and the safety of future generations. He argued that development remains essential as society requires energy, food, employment, housing, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and technology.

On the issue of justice, he emphasised that a legal system cannot be judged solely by the completeness of its regulations, procedures, and institutions, as law must provide tangible benefits to society, especially for groups that have historically struggled to access justice.

The former State Secretary also touched upon the challenges facing Indonesia as a state governed by law with extraordinary diversity. He noted that Indonesia comprises thousands of islands, hundreds of ethnic groups, and various religions and beliefs, with multiple legal systems coexisting, ranging from national and regional laws to customary, religious, and international law.

Consequently, Yusril suggested that Asia does not need to fully replicate legal integration models such as the European Union. “Legal cooperation in Asia needs to be built based on the region’s own experience—gradually, through dialogue, and founded on trust between nations,” he said.

He also advised young academics and students not to view legal knowledge merely as a technical skill. He encouraged young law graduates to master more than just articles and procedures, urging them to be able to interpret social changes, understand technological developments, handle cross-border legal issues, and maintain a sensitivity toward justice.

Yusril stated that the greatest challenge today is not the absence of law, but rather the proliferation of regulations without a corresponding increase in the substance of justice. He emphasised that while regulations, institutions, and procedures may continue to evolve, legal protection is not necessarily felt by the public. Therefore, he stressed the importance of building a legal system that is not only institutionally strong but also trusted by the community, possessing integrity, wisdom, and the ability to deliver real justice.

The 23rd ASLI Annual Conference took place over two days, from 3–4 June 2026. The forum brought together academics, practitioners, researchers, and legal stakeholders from various Asian nations.