Bahtiar Effendy Auditorium, FISIP Online – The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) UIN Jakarta held a public lecture entitled "The Role of Courts in Constitutional Democracies" at the Bahtiar Effendy Auditorium, FISIP Building, on Wednesday (4/24/2024). The public lecture was attended by academics, students, as well as several important figures in the field of law and politics, including the Canadian Ambassador to Indonesia, H.E. Jess Dutton.

The lecture began with a welcoming address from the Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Prof. Dr. Dzuriyatun Toyibah, M.Si., M.A., who emphasized the importance of international cooperation in the fields of education and law, which have helped improve academic quality in Indonesia. "Collaboration with international universities and institutions, especially McGill University in Canada, has had a significant impact on teaching and learning in our faculty," said the Dean.

The Canadian Ambassador to Indonesia, Jess Dutton, in his remarks, highlighted the importance of bilateral relations between Canada and Indonesia, particularly in strengthening economic and educational ties. He added, "Canada greatly values its partnership with Indonesia, a country with the world's third-largest democracy and tremendous growth potential in the future."

The keynote speaker, Professor Christopher Manfredy from McGill University, provided an in-depth perspective on the role of courts in safeguarding constitutional democracy. In his discussion, he presented comparative analyses of judicial systems in various countries and how these systems can influence political stability and public trust in democratic institutions.

The event also served as a platform for discussing the influence of court decisions on the results of Indonesia's 2024 general elections, which have recently been a hot topic among the public and media.

"It is important to understand that the role of the courts is not only to protect the constitution but also to safeguard the values of democracy," concluded Professor Manfredy.

The public lecture concluded with an interactive question and answer session, where participants had the opportunity to delve deeper into the presented material and pose specific questions regarding current issues in the context of law and politics.