Literasi Hukum - In the era of globalization, English has become the primary lingua franca in science, diplomacy, commerce, and international law. While its use facilitates cross-border communication, it also creates significant disparities for speakers of other languages. The hegemony of English fosters what is known as linguistic injustice, where non-English or non-Anglophone speakers are often marginalized in various aspects of life, including within the global justice system.

The widespread diffusion of English is inseparable from the legacy of British colonialism and the cultural and economic dominance of the United States. In 1992, Robert Phillipson introduced the concept of “linguistic imperialism,” explaining that the dominance of English is not merely a tool of communication but a form of power embedded in global systems. In this context, language becomes both a symbol and an instrument of ideological control, relegating other languages to an inferior status.

In practice, this dominance is clearly reflected at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which designates only two official languages—English and French. All legal documents and court proceedings must be conducted in these two languages, even though not all UN member states use them in their domestic legal practices. Even when treaties are drafted in multiple languages, the Court often prioritizes the…