DJUANDA DECLARATION

Djuanda Declaration is the beginning of struggle to recognize the whole lands and seas between islands of Indonesia as a definite jurisdiction of Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. According to the declartion stated by prime Minister Djuanda Kartawidjaja on 13 December 1957, Indonesia adopted a principle of Archipelagic State. As a consequence, Indonesia's territory widened from 2,027,087 km square to 5,193,250 km square with sea border line along 196 nautical miles straight from each outer island. Previously, Indonesia's territory referred to Territoriale Zee en Maritieme Kingen Ordonantie 1939 which stated Indonesia's region consist of islands with sea  border along 3 nautical miles straight from baseline of coastal state. As stated by this act, some territorial sea between those islands fall into international jurisdiction.

The archipelagic state concept advanced by Djuanda Declaration has put a strategic significance  for Indonesian as it has brought a concept of Wawasan Nusantara. Wawasan Nusantara is Indonesia's point of view toward people, nation and country of Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia consisting of its territorial land, sea, and air as a unity of politics, economics, social, culture, and security defense. In line with this doctrine, territorial sea is no more a separator but a unifier of Indonesia and treated as a sole territory of Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

Started by Djuanda Declaration, Indonesia's diplomatic struggle achievement was indicated by the international recognition of archipelagic state concept in the 3rd United Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982 later known as the Law of Sea 1982. The Government of the Republic of Indonesia ratified the Law of Sea 1982 through the Law Number 17 the Year of 1985.

In commemorating Indonesia's diplomatic struggle, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia celebrates the date of 13 December as Nusantara Day. in the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Djuanda Declaration, Directorate General Post and Telecommunication of the Republic of Indonesia issue stamp series "The 50th anniversary of Djuanda Declararation" on 13 December 2007. The stamp design features winning artworks of National Stamp Design Contest 2007 created by Joko Suharbowo, Wondo Hendratmo, and Aurella Christania Rahardjo.