Depok – The government has announced the opening of the 2025 Peacemaker Justice Award (PJA), an annual recognition program for village and urban village heads who have shown extraordinary dedication in resolving legal issues through non-litigation methods. Serving as protectors, listeners, and mediators, these local leaders are recognized for maintaining social harmony and earning the trust of their communities.
The program follows a nationwide paralegal and peacemaker training attended by 1,023 village and urban village heads. Of these, 802 participants from 35 provinces, 255 districts/cities, and 586 subdistricts successfully completed the training and practical assignments, earning the title of Non-Litigation Peacemaker (NLP). A total of 130 of them have been invited to Jakarta for the final selection round, where they will compete to become the Top 10 Peacemakers in the 2025 PJA.
The Vice Minister of Law, Eddy Hiariej, congratulated the 130 selected participants who will undergo further assessment before the Top 10 are chosen. He emphasized that the ultimate purpose of law is to achieve peace, order, justice, and welfare.
“Peacemakers are the front line in resolving community disputes,” Eddy said during the event at the Ministry’s Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM) on Monday (November 24, 2025).
The Vice Minister highlighted the importance of local culture and community values in guiding decision-making. This approach aligns with Law No. 1 of 2023, which will take effect on January 2, 2026, and gives greater recognition to living law while remaining consistent with the principles of the Law on Judicial Power.
He explained that restorative justice can take several forms, one of which is Victim–Offender Mediation, where mediators play a key role in helping parties reach a peaceful settlement.
“I want to emphasize that under Supreme Court regulations, a peace agreement holds the same legal force as a court judgment. This means that if a case is resolved peacefully at the village or urban village level, it is considered final and does not need to go to court,” he stated.
At the same event, Head of the Administrative Affairs Agency of the Supreme Court, Dr. Sobandi, praised the Ministry of Law’s consistency in organizing the PJA. He noted that the presence of the 130 participants demonstrates that the spirit of deliberation and sincerity continues to guide dispute resolution at the grassroots level.
“The court is the last resort. Peace must always be the first choice,” Sobandi emphasized.
He added that many peacemaker alumni have successfully mediated disputes within their communities.
“They work quietly, bringing people back together when relationships are on the brink of breaking, and preventing small conflicts from escalating. May this program inspire you to continue serving as guardians of your communities,” he said.
The opening ceremony of PJA 2025 included the presentation of the Anubawa Sasana Jagadhita (ASJ) Certificate, the Peacemaker Justice Award, ASJ medals, and PJA trophies to selected representatives. With a strong spirit of collaboration and peaceful resolution, peacemakers are expected to remain at the forefront of maintaining harmony within their communities.
