Author
Ms Revianty Yovinka
Organisation/Institution
Universitas Pelita Harapan, Faculty of Law
Country
INDONESIA
Panel
Private Law
Title
Impact of Inheritance Law Reform on Women's Economic Empowerment in Indonesia
Abstract
Inheritance law reform plays a strategic role in strengthening women's economic empowerment by increasing access to productive assets, strengthening their bargaining position within the family and society, and promoting more gender-just legal interpretation. The ownership of property and assets serves as a critical instrument for women to achieve long-term economic security, especially in the context of social vulnerability following divorce or the death of a spouse. Legal reform creates opportunities for women to independently own and control assets, which in turn enhances their financial autonomy and participation in family economic decision-making. In Indonesia, this reform is often realized not through changes in legislation but through the progressive interpretation of judicial institutions and social practices, such as the adoption of the principle of consensus (musyawarah) in the division of Islamic inheritance, and the preservation of pro-women matrilineal customary systems. Nevertheless, major challenges persist due to legal pluralism among Islamic law, customary law, and civil law each with different principles and impacts on women's inheritance rights. Inheritance law reform has proven to be effective in creating an inclusive legal framework, but its effectiveness heavily relies on increasing the legal literacy of the public and the political will to overcome persistent patriarchal norms. Thus, inheritance law reform is a crucial foundation for advancing gender equality and women's economic independence in Indonesia.
Biography
I am currently a lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH), and hold a Master of Laws degree with a concentration in business law and the development of notarial practice in Indonesia. My academic activities include teaching, developing legal learning materials, and participating in seminars, discussions, and scholarly events that support the advancement of contemporary legal studies. My research interests include legal reform, Indonesia’s legal pluralism, digital transformation in legal services, and gender equality issues within inheritance and family law. I also have experience in academic management through my role at the UPH Graduate School, which has strengthened my understanding of program coordination and interdisciplinary academic initiatives. My recent research focuses on inheritance law reform and its implications for women’s economic empowerment, particularly the role of progressive legal interpretation in navigating Indonesia’s pluralistic legal framework. Through my teaching and research, I am committed to contributing to the development of an inclusive, adaptive, and socially responsive legal system.
