47 Pairs UnderAGE Break Marriage Dispensation In West Lombok, 27 Years Of Women 13-16 Years Old

Illustration of marriage. (Unsplash-Gema Saputera)

A total of 47 prospective brides and grooms applying for a wedding dispensation in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), throughout January-November 2022.

They submitted it to the Office of Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) for the Protection of Women and Children (PPA) at the Central Lombok Women's Empowerment, Child Protection, Population Control and Family Planning Service (DP3AP2KB).

"A total of 47 underage brides and grooms have proposed marriage dispensation," said Head of the UPTD for the Protection of Women and Children at the Central Lombok DP3AP2KB, Ashab in Praya, NTB, Tuesday, December 13, as reported by Antara.

He said the bride and groom asked for a recommendation from the UPTD PPA to be given a marriage dispensation at the Religious Court (PA).

Of the 47 couples, UPTD PPA only provides recommendations for 20 couples. "A total of 27 other couples are not given recommendations for marriage dispensation," he added.

Even though the brides have applied for permission to get a marriage dispensation recommendation, he said, not all the proposals can be fulfilled.

On the one hand, there are also several considerations that make the service provide recommendations for dispensation.

"What we recommend can be dispensed because we see that men are psychologically ready and in material terms, the age of women is approaching 19 years old and the two brides and grooms already have views on the concept of marriage," he said.

Ashab explained that the dispensation recommendation was not given to couples whose brides were deemed not psychologically ready and material. As for the bride and groom, it is still far from 19 years old, which is an average age of 13-16 years.

Some were even rejected, because they were married first. That's why only 20 couples have been recommended, and we don't recommend 27 people," he said.

Currently, his party is not only strict in issuing recommendations for marriage dispensation. In fact, they also immediately go to the public if they receive information about the wedding plans for minors.

"As a result, from the beginning of the year to November, there were at least 26 pairs of adopted age children who were thwarted from carrying out their marriage," he said.

Apart from those who apply for a marriage dispensation, his party has separated 26 married couples who are still minors and the largest number in NTB Province who have succeeded in separating children who are getting married by approaching various parties.

He admits that it is not easy to separate children from getting married, they also feel threats and intimidation for officers. Not infrequently this separation is hit by the habit of people marrying their children.

"The main obstacle is customs. And we continue to approach various parties, so that we can reduce the number of early marriages," he said.