In July this year, ACICIS assisted The University of Newcastle to facilitate the Environmental Law Professional Practicum (ELPP), a New Colombo Plan funded Mobility Program located in Indonesia. ACICIS was delighted to welcome 19 students and 2 accompanying lecturers for the two week program.
The ELPP included a full one-day orientation as well as a one-day Indonesian language class at Atma Jaya University. The students then completed two weeks of a professional placement at local and international law firms, NGOs and research institutes holding credentials in tackling environmental issues and corruption. These organisations included:
- Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH) Jakarta
- World AgroForestry Centre (ICRAF)
- Institute for Study and Advocacy for Judicial independence, Indonesia (LEIP)
- Institute for Criminal Justice Reform
- Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (Seknas FITRA)
- Sajogyo Institute
- Koalisi Perempuan Indonesia/Indonesian Women’s Coalition
- Association for Community and Ecology-Based Law Reform (HuMa)
- Yayasan Pelangi
- Soemadipradja & Taher Advocates
- Epistema Institute
- Lembaga Studi dan Advokasi Masyrakat (ELSAM)
- Sawit Watch
- Wildlife Conservation Society
The ELPP also included two evenings of seminars discussing environmental issues. The first seminar covered an overview of Indonesian environmental issues and was hosted by panellists Arifsyah Nasution (Head of the Marine Campaign Unit, Greenpeace Indonesia), Hedro Sangkoyo (Founder of School of Democratic Economics), and Sitiy Maimunah (researcher at Sajogyo Institute). The final seminar discussed corruption in environmental issues and was hosted by panellists Monica Tanuhandaru (Director of Partnership for Governance Reform (Kemitraan)), Sely Martini (Deputy Director of Indonesia Corruption Watch), and Surya Tiandra (Researcher at Atma Jaya University and previously a candidate for position of Commissioner of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPRK)).
The students also had the opportunity to take a field trip to Universitas Brawijaya Malang to attend seminars and discussions that highlighted Environmental and Human Rights issues at Universitas Brawijaya’s Pusat Penelitan Hukum Adat (Indigenous Law Research Centre), the Omah Munir Musem (hosted by Ibu Suciwati, the wife of the late Munir), and the site of the Lumpur Sidoarjo (Sidoarjo Mud) tragedy.
ACICIS would like to thank The University of Newcastle. We hope that you enjoyed your time on this ACICIS custom program. We hope to see you all in Indonesia again soon!
ACICIS can be contacted to organise customised tours or programs for organisations, groups, or universities. If you are interested in organising a customised tour or program, please contact enquiries@acicis.edu.au with details.
