The Trend Of Child Marriage Cases In Central Lombok Decreased This Year

Head of UPTD for the Protection of Women and Children (PPA) Central Lombok Regency, NTB Province Baiq Indri Purnawati (ANTARA/Akhyar Rosidi)

LOMBOK - The Regency Government (Pemkab) of Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province, noted that the trend of child marriage cases in the first half of 2024 decreased when compared to the number of cases in 2023 which reached 48 cases. "The number of child marriage cases handled until June 2024 is eight cases, meaning there is a decrease if you look at cases in the first semester of 2023 which reached 24 cases," said Head of UPT for the Protection of Women and Children of Central Lombok Regency Baiq Indri Purnawati in Central Lombok, Antara, Thursday, July 11. Of the eight cases of child marriage handled, two cases were followed up with the provision of marriage dispensation, as their age approached 19 years. Meanwhile, six other cases were transferred to the Praya Religious Court to determine whether the marriage dispensation was continued or postponed. "It will depend on the decision of the Praya Religious Court," he said. Prevention of child marriage has become the government's focus in preventing stunting cases and realizing Indonesia Gold 2045. "We continue to carry out socialization to prevent child marriage in Central Lombok," he said. He said that from the results of the evaluation that had been carried out on cases of child marriage, on average it was due to a lack of family attention to children. This is the reason for them to get married early in the hope of getting a better life. "If they get married, their lives are better, that's the reason they got married," he said. Therefore, it is hoped that the role of parents is very important in supporting the prevention of child marriage by increasing attention and supervision of their respective children. "There is no one separated this year," he said.

As a form of commitment from the regional government (Pemda) in supporting the prevention of child marriage, he said, the Regional Regulation (Perda) on the Protection of Women and Children is currently under discussion.