Jakarta, Approximately one in ten marriages annually in Indonesia involves a person under 18 years of age.
Child marriage mainly affects girls and deprives them of education, opportunities and basic rights.
It is also deeply linked to cultural, economic and social pressures. Progress in reducing rates of child marriage has been slow, particularly in rural areas where poverty and tradition continue to fuel the practice.
West Java, East Java and Central Java together account for 55 percent of all child marriages in the country. This alarming statistic highlights the need for urgent action to protect the rights of girls, many of whom are forced into early marriage due to financial difficulties, social pressure and limited access to education.
The Indonesian government aims to reduce the rate of child marriage from 11.2 percent in 2018 to 8.74 percent by 2024, as part of its Medium-Term National Development Plan (RPJMN) 2020-2024. strengthen law enforcement, provide better educational and health resources, and address the cultural and economic factors that drive early marriage.
Economic pressures and cultural norms.
Research highlights that almost 80 percent of parents involved in early marriage live in poverty. These families often rely on subsistence farming or low-wage jobs, such as agricultural work, domestic work, or irregular employment such as digging sand or driving motorcycle taxis. Parents facing these financial difficulties see early marriage as a solution to ease their financial burdens, especially when it comes to dowry. For many, the immediate financial benefit of marrying off a daughter outweighs the potential long-term advantages of keeping her in school.
Cultural traditions further reinforce this practice. About 73 percent of parents surveyed in rural Indonesia support child marriage to maintain cultural traditions, and 65 percent believe religion does not prohibit it, as long as the child has reached puberty.
The pressure to conform to community norms and avoid social ostracism often leads families to accept marriage proposals for their daughters, sometimes from much older men, perpetuating the cycle of gender inequality. Educational barriers and social pressures.
Access to education plays a crucial role in preventing child marriage, but many rural areas suffer from limited educational infrastructure.
Two-thirds of parents surveyed had low levels of formal education, which affects their perception of the value of education for their children. In rural areas, schools are often located far from homes, and transportation costs put further pressure on to families who are already in difficulty. Although the government can provide financial assistance for schooling, many parents redirect this support to meet immediate household needs, rather than investing in their children's education, especially daughters.
Social pressure also plays an important role in child marriage. Families fear community backlash or even superstitious consequences if they reject marriage proposals, further entrenching the practice. In rural areas, parents believe that marrying their daughters increases family prestige and eases household burdens.
More than 60 percent of parents surveyed said early marriage helped reduce family responsibilities, and 67 percent saw it as a means of ensuring family continuity. Lasting impact
The effects of child marriage are serious and long-lasting, affecting not only the girls involved but also their families and communities.
Girls married at a young age are more likely to suffer physical and psychological trauma, including childbirth complications and mental health problems, due to their abrupt transition to adult responsibilities. Child marriage often leads to divorce, leaving many young women as single mothers, which plunges them further into poverty and isolation.
In some regions, such as coastal Java, a phenomenon known as ngeranda has emerged, in which young men seek divorced women to marry due to a shortage of single women who have never been married. This reflects the high divorce rates in areas where child marriage is prevalent, leaving young women vulnerable and without support.
Furthermore, child marriage perpetuates intergenerational poverty. Girls forced into early marriage are less likely to complete their education, limiting their future employment opportunities and economic independence. Their children, in turn, often grow up in poverty, with limited access to education and health care, continuing the cycle of disadvantage. Government efforts and challenges
The Indonesian government has made efforts to curb child marriage, integrating it into broader national development plans.
Policies such as the compulsory education program for children aged 7 to 15 have improved enrollment rates, but dropout rates remain high, especially at the secondary school level. Rural families still face challenges such as transportation costs and low educational aspirations, which continue to drive early marriages. The government has also introduced a Department of Religious Affairs bill, which proposes fines of up to 6 million rupees (582 Australian dollars) for those who marry minor children and 12 million rupees (1,164 Australian dollars) for officiants who facilitate these marriages. .
However, law enforcement remains a challenge, especially in rural areas where local customs often supersede national laws.
In collaboration with international agencies such as UNICEF and UN Women, the country has launched programs aimed at reducing child marriage and promoting equal opportunities for women and girls. Furthermore, health centers in rural districts are not functioning effectively, and more 40 percent of parents indicate that health workers do not sufficiently explain the risks of child marriage.
Address root causes
While child marriage rates have decreased by 3.5 percent over the past decade, the decline has been uneven. Rural areas are experiencing a faster reduction than urban areas, but overall progress is not enough to meet the government's 2024 target. Addressing the root causes of child marriage requires a multifaceted approach that addresses the cultural, economic and educational factors that They drive the practice.
Community leaders, particularly religious figures, play a critical role in changing social attitudes toward child marriage. By promoting the importance of education and advocating for delaying marriage until girls are older, these leaders can help break down cultural norms that perpetuate early marriage. Their participation is essential in regions where local traditions have more influence than national law.
In addition to cultural interventions, the government should strengthen enforcement of child marriage laws and improve access to education and health care in rural areas. Programs that provide economic support to poor families and increase access to Job training could reduce financial incentives for early marriage, allowing families to invest in their daughters' education. (360info.org) AMS
Child marriage mainly affects girls and deprives them of education, opportunities and basic rights.
It is also deeply linked to cultural, economic and social pressures. Progress in reducing rates of child marriage has been slow, particularly in rural areas where poverty and tradition continue to fuel the practice.
West Java, East Java and Central Java together account for 55 percent of all child marriages in the country. This alarming statistic highlights the need for urgent action to protect the rights of girls, many of whom are forced into early marriage due to financial difficulties, social pressure and limited access to education.
The Indonesian government aims to reduce the rate of child marriage from 11.2 percent in 2018 to 8.74 percent by 2024, as part of its Medium-Term National Development Plan (RPJMN) 2020-2024. strengthen law enforcement, provide better educational and health resources, and address the cultural and economic factors that drive early marriage.
Economic pressures and cultural norms.
Research highlights that almost 80 percent of parents involved in early marriage live in poverty. These families often rely on subsistence farming or low-wage jobs, such as agricultural work, domestic work, or irregular employment such as digging sand or driving motorcycle taxis. Parents facing these financial difficulties see early marriage as a solution to ease their financial burdens, especially when it comes to dowry. For many, the immediate financial benefit of marrying off a daughter outweighs the potential long-term advantages of keeping her in school.
Cultural traditions further reinforce this practice. About 73 percent of parents surveyed in rural Indonesia support child marriage to maintain cultural traditions, and 65 percent believe religion does not prohibit it, as long as the child has reached puberty.
The pressure to conform to community norms and avoid social ostracism often leads families to accept marriage proposals for their daughters, sometimes from much older men, perpetuating the cycle of gender inequality. Educational barriers and social pressures.
Access to education plays a crucial role in preventing child marriage, but many rural areas suffer from limited educational infrastructure.
Two-thirds of parents surveyed had low levels of formal education, which affects their perception of the value of education for their children. In rural areas, schools are often located far from homes, and transportation costs put further pressure on to families who are already in difficulty. Although the government can provide financial assistance for schooling, many parents redirect this support to meet immediate household needs, rather than investing in their children's education, especially daughters.
Social pressure also plays an important role in child marriage. Families fear community backlash or even superstitious consequences if they reject marriage proposals, further entrenching the practice. In rural areas, parents believe that marrying their daughters increases family prestige and eases household burdens.
More than 60 percent of parents surveyed said early marriage helped reduce family responsibilities, and 67 percent saw it as a means of ensuring family continuity. Lasting impact
The effects of child marriage are serious and long-lasting, affecting not only the girls involved but also their families and communities.
Girls married at a young age are more likely to suffer physical and psychological trauma, including childbirth complications and mental health problems, due to their abrupt transition to adult responsibilities. Child marriage often leads to divorce, leaving many young women as single mothers, which plunges them further into poverty and isolation.
In some regions, such as coastal Java, a phenomenon known as ngeranda has emerged, in which young men seek divorced women to marry due to a shortage of single women who have never been married. This reflects the high divorce rates in areas where child marriage is prevalent, leaving young women vulnerable and without support.
Furthermore, child marriage perpetuates intergenerational poverty. Girls forced into early marriage are less likely to complete their education, limiting their future employment opportunities and economic independence. Their children, in turn, often grow up in poverty, with limited access to education and health care, continuing the cycle of disadvantage. Government efforts and challenges
The Indonesian government has made efforts to curb child marriage, integrating it into broader national development plans.
Policies such as the compulsory education program for children aged 7 to 15 have improved enrollment rates, but dropout rates remain high, especially at the secondary school level. Rural families still face challenges such as transportation costs and low educational aspirations, which continue to drive early marriages. The government has also introduced a Department of Religious Affairs bill, which proposes fines of up to 6 million rupees (582 Australian dollars) for those who marry minor children and 12 million rupees (1,164 Australian dollars) for officiants who facilitate these marriages. .
However, law enforcement remains a challenge, especially in rural areas where local customs often supersede national laws.
In collaboration with international agencies such as UNICEF and UN Women, the country has launched programs aimed at reducing child marriage and promoting equal opportunities for women and girls. Furthermore, health centers in rural districts are not functioning effectively, and more 40 percent of parents indicate that health workers do not sufficiently explain the risks of child marriage.
Address root causes
While child marriage rates have decreased by 3.5 percent over the past decade, the decline has been uneven. Rural areas are experiencing a faster reduction than urban areas, but overall progress is not enough to meet the government's 2024 target. Addressing the root causes of child marriage requires a multifaceted approach that addresses the cultural, economic and educational factors that They drive the practice.
Community leaders, particularly religious figures, play a critical role in changing social attitudes toward child marriage. By promoting the importance of education and advocating for delaying marriage until girls are older, these leaders can help break down cultural norms that perpetuate early marriage. Their participation is essential in regions where local traditions have more influence than national law.
In addition to cultural interventions, the government should strengthen enforcement of child marriage laws and improve access to education and health care in rural areas. Programs that provide economic support to poor families and increase access to Job training could reduce financial incentives for early marriage, allowing families to invest in their daughters' education. (360info.org) AMS
