The Dynamics of Criminal Law Enforcement in Indonesia: An Analysis of Recent Cases in the Last Two Years and Their Contribution to the Achievement of the SDGs
Authors: Lubis Muhammad Ansori 
Published: January 2025

Objective: Law enforcement in Indonesia regarding criminal cases involving children as victims aims to strengthen the rule of law and improve infrastructure such as the police, prosecutors, and courts. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified through Law No. 23 of 2002 concerning child protection, ensures that children are protected from all forms of violence, a fundamental right. The specific target of SDG 16 in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which focuses on ending all forms of violence against children, provides a renewed push towards realizing every child's right to live free from fear, neglect, abuse, and exploitation. This study aims to provide an overview of qualitative research on criminal cases involving children as victims in Indonesia.

Theoretical Framework: This research adopts a theoretical approach that includes Law Enforcement Theory, the Concept of Restorative Justice, and the SDGs Framework. These frameworks connect legal norms, social behavior, and child protection, which interact to prevent children from being stigmatized by legal proceedings and to reduce violence, improve access to justice, and enhance the effectiveness of legal institutions.

Method: This study employs a normative juridical approach, analyzing laws, doctrines, and practices concerning the implementation of Restorative Justice principles within Indonesia's juvenile criminal justice system. The data is analyzed qualitatively to provide a deeper understanding of the dynamics of criminal law enforcement and its connection to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Results and Discussion: This study demonstrates that the reform of Indonesia's juvenile criminal justice system, which incorporates the principles of Restorative Justice, holds significant potential to advance the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG Goal 16 on Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. For the Restorative Justice-based reform of the juvenile criminal justice system to effectively contribute to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals, it requires unwavering commitment from the government and all stakeholders to address the current challenges and continually strengthen the legal and institutional frameworks that support this reform.

Research Implications: Law enforcement in cases involving children as both offenders and victims must adhere to child-friendly justice principles that ensure the protection of children's rights. The findings of this study can promote the enhancement of the juvenile criminal justice system, including the establishment of specialized courts for children, the provision of legal assistance services, and the application of humane treatment in accordance with the Juvenile Criminal Justice System Law.

Originality/Value: This study focuses on child victims within the criminal justice system, a group often overlooked in academic and policy debates. By concentrating on this issue, the research examines how the law addresses child victims in various situations, including sexual violence, human trafficking, exploitation, and domestic abuse.