Uniting Trough Sport: Legal Reflection on Sport for Development and Peace in the Indonesian Context

Abstract

This article explores the relevance and potential of the Sport for
Development and Peace (SDP) framework within the Indonesian context,
particularly through the lens of national sports law. Despite the global
recognition of SDP as a transformative tool for fostering inclusivity, peace,
and social development, Indonesia lacks a formal legal foundation for its
implementation. Drawing on a normative juridical method that
incorporates statutory and conceptual approaches, the study critically
analyses Law No. 11 of 2022 on Sports to evaluate its alignment with SDP
values such as equity, sustainability, and social cohesion. The findings
reveal that while Indonesia’s current legal framework implicitly supports
several SDP principles, it falls short of offering explicit provisions or
strategic policies for their integration. The paper recommends the
reconstruction of existing legislation or the issuance of derivative
regulations to institutionalise SDP in Indonesia. Such reforms would not
only enhance the legal clarity and operational capacity of SDP programmes
but also affirm Indonesia's commitment to utilising sport as a means of
nation-building, youth development, and global peace advocacy.