VENICE — Led by Constitutional Justice Arief Hidayat, the delegation of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia (MKRI) called for support for Palestine at the 21st meeting of the bureau of the World Conference on Constitutional Justice (WCCJ) on Saturday, March 16, 2024 in Venice, Italy.

At the meeting, which took place at Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista, one of the matters discussed matters by the bureau was the agreement to publish the resolution of the WCCJ on human rights and legal violations that often occur internationally.

At the meeting, Constitutional Justice Arief Hidayat began his firm statement by saying that the Constitutional Court of Indonesia believes in the common view of humanity and human rights as values that unites the WCCJ. He explained that since the beginning of its inception, as laid out in its statute, the WCCJ members agree that law enforcement, democracy, and human rights are the basis for the organization’s establishment and purpose.

He also emphasized that various human rights violations and humanitarian tragedies should not have happened. He expressed regret that many countries claim to uphold supremacy of the law but commit violations of international laws.

“The world should not turn a blind eye when faced with the humanitarian tragedy in Palestine that has been going on for decades. Moreover, Palestine and Israel are both members of the WCCJ,” he said before all attendees.

The WCCJ resolution was been agreed upon and immediately distributed to all 121 members. With this resolution, members are expected to support each other and uphold the supremacy of the constitution both in their own country as well as in the relations with other countries. This resolution was first discussed in March 2023, and approved one year later, at the 21st bureau meeting.

Presidents of constitutional court associations of various regions and languages attended this bureau meeting. They are the Association of Asian Constitutional Court and Equivalent Institutions (AACC), the Conference of Constitutional Jurisdictions of Africa (CCJA), the Conference of European Constitutional Courts (CECC), the Eurasian Association of Constitutional Review Bodies (EACRB), Conference of Constitutional Jurisdictions of the Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CJCPLP), the Association of Francophone Constitutional Courts (ACCF), the Union of Arab Constitutional Courts of Councils (UACCC). Representatives of world continents also attended the meeting. Head of the AACC Permanent Secretariat and International Affairs Department Immanuel Hutasoit and political coordinator of the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Rome Eko Himawan accompanied Justice Arief Hidayat during the event.

The Supreme Constitutional Court of the State of Palestine
For information, The Supreme Constitutional Court of the State of Palestine proposed a membership to the Association of Asian Constitutional Court and Equivalent Institutions (AACC). With the invaluable assistance of the Permanent Secretariat for Planning and Coordination (SPC), Palestine's application was disseminated to all members for their consideration and feedback. In August 2022, during the Board of Members Meeting (BoMM), Palestine was admitted as the twentieth member of the Association. The role of the Supreme Constitutional Court in safeguarding, respecting, and protecting the basic rights and freedoms of the Palestians due to its impact on achieving the promotion of rights in the State and consolidating and rule of law and democracy. The legitimacy of Constitutional control is a sign for the maturity of democracy since democracy is directly connected to the constitutional judiciary which guarantess the implementation of the provisions of the Constitution ensuring the rule of law in the State.