JAKARTA - The city of Solo noted that there were 140 cases of marriage of children under the age of 18 during 2021 or at the same time as the COVID-19 pandemic.
"This is one of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, right PJJ (distance learning), they tend to study at home and supervision from parents is lacking," said Head of the Surakarta City Women's Empowerment, Child Protection, Population Control and Family Planning Office, Purwanti. at the Inauguration of the Surakarta Children's Forum Management for 2022-2024 in Solo, Monday, June 13, as reported by Antara.
In fact, during one month of counseling for children, it was found that there were five cases of pregnancy out of wedlock. Responding to this, his party intensified again to stop child marriage.
"So Jo Kawin Bocah (Central Java Provincial Government's program to suppress cases of underage marriages), is the program of Mr. Ganjar (Governor of Central Java) but for us it is a prevention effort for child marriages," he said.
Therefore, he said, what is needed is a campaign to mature the age of marriage.
Meanwhile, it was mentioned about the cause of the rise of child marriages, one of which is due to economic factors.
"Because after we gave counseling to one of the parents, the parents felt that if the child was married, it was no longer under their care," he said.
In this regard, according to him, the Surakarta City Government is not lacking in opening up access to education as widely as possible.
"We already have the BPMKS (Surakarta City Community Education Assistance) program, it's free education, actually, but again, the parent factor plays a role, the family resilience factor as well," he said.
He said some of the perpetrators of underage marriage cases were due to the condition of their families who were no longer intact.
"Single parent, like it or not, there is not enough parental supervision, they focus on making a living," he said.
Therefore, the establishment of the Surakarta Children's Forum is expected to serve as a forum for children's participation as well as prevent children from receiving treatment related to violence and discrimination.
"Because child marriage is violence, it is a form of violence. We hope that with these children we really campaign, starting at the school level to the regional level because there are children's forums at the sub-district and village levels," he said.
He said the campaign by involving children would be more effective and the results would be more effective.
"It will be more impactful if those who do the learning are of the same age, peer educators," he said.
Regarding the case of a pregnant child out of wedlock, the Mayor of Surakarta, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, said it was a homework for the Surakarta City Government. As a preventive measure, his party will intensify educational efforts.
"Assistance for children from the office and teachers must still be encouraged so that schools do not discriminate. This is also one of the PKK's focuses besides stunting, namely pregnancy out of wedlock, child violence, this was still high," he said.
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