In multicultural and ethnically, religiously, and traditionally diverse societies, the prevailing legal system is not always a single one. Many countries, including Indonesia, live in the reality of legal pluralism where state law, religious law, and customary law coexist, sometimes harmoniously, sometimes overlapping. This legal pluralism reflects complex social and historical dynamics and poses challenges to efforts to create inclusive and sustainable justice.

In Indonesia, the existence of customary law and Islamic sharia in various regions is constitutionally recognized, but its implementation often faces a dilemma between respecting local wisdom and national standards and universal human rights principles. Globally, similar issues exist in countries with dual or triple legal systems, such as Malaysia, South Africa, India, Kenya, and several countries in Latin America and Oceania that recognize indigenous legal systems.