The Marginalized Wisdom: The Empowerment of Customary Law in Handling Family Conflicts

This research aims to construct the manifestation of customary law empowerment as a facility for handling family conflicts. This was empirical legal research with a qualitative-naturalistic approach. It was conducted in the North Birobuli District, Palu City, Sulawesi, Indonesia. The authors obtained data from observation and interviews with customary figures. Results showed that as a facility for handling family conflicts, customary law empowerment is constructed in the form of alternative dispute resolution (non-litigation dispute resolution) through mediation and negotiation techniques. The many aspects of customary law empowerment as a facility for handling family conflicts should be strengthened to optimize its function as an alternative dispute resolution institution. This is crucial considering that this institution has been proven to resolve family disputes in a simple, quick, and affordable manner by still maintaining societal harmony. If not, this invaluable social capital will only become an ever-marginalized local wisdom.