DENPASAR, OborDewata.com – Child marriage is not a solution to economic or social problems. On the contrary, in some cases, this practice has proven to lead children into even more complex issues. Amid the national decline in marriage rates by 7.5 percent in 2023, Indonesia still faces numerous child marriage problems, including in Bali Province. By this time, hundreds of thousands of children under the age of 18 have married for various reasons, with one of the main causes being family economic difficulties.
This issue has caught the attention of Putu Diah Pradnya Maharani, a prominent figure from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in the Gianyar electoral district, who secured the highest vote count in the 2024 Bali Provincial Legislative Election (Pileg) with 133,868 votes. In an interview with the media after attending a Work Program Discussion and Synergy Building meeting with the Bali Provincial Legislative Commission IV partners on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, Gek Diah—her familiar nickname—expressed that this trend could be halted.
“We should not let early marriages (pregnancy before marriage) become normalized. We know we have principles based on the prevailing norms. This phenomenon must be addressed by spreading awareness, as I heard from the National Youth Forum, which questioned this issue. They asked, ‘Is it common in Bali to get pregnant first and then marry?’ This narrative has reached a national level among the youth I know,” said Gek Diah.
In response to this phenomenon, which she described as an “alarm” threatening the future of youth in Bali, Gek Diah emphasized the need for “protection” and collaboration among all stakeholders to reduce early marriage rates.
“This ‘protection’ is in terms of human resource education. Women must also dare to speak out, even when pressured by the patriarchal system that still dominates in Bali, where they (women) are often reluctant to raise their voices. Of course, this is related to poverty levels, because when we have children, there are costs for education, household finances, and other expenses that will increase. So, if parents are not financially or mentally prepared, this will have a significant impact,” stressed Gek Diah.
The daughter of Gianyar Regent I Made “Agus” Mahayastra added that early marriages triggered by premarital pregnancies could be addressed through widespread socialization aimed at improving human resource quality among the youth.
Reproductive health education and raising awareness of the negative impacts of early marriage must be prioritized for students in Indonesia, especially in Bali.
“These issues must always be updated, so the problems faced by young people and society can be resolved,” explained the politician, born on October 30, 2002.
“They (young people) don’t dare to speak up, they don’t know how to prepare for marriage. Health (of the future spouses) must be maintained first. Are we healthy? Then, are we ready to have children and support a family? Mental readiness is also crucial, because the mental health of the future mother is vital to avoid ‘baby blues,'” said Gek Diah, who won a bronze medal in the 2018 Bali-level Chemistry Olympiad for junior high school students. Baby blues refers to mood disturbances experienced by mothers after childbirth, characterized by feelings of sadness, anxiety, irritability, and crying.
Gek Diah emphasized that early child marriage resulting from premarital pregnancy happens because both the man and woman often do not fully understand the negative consequences they will face. “This requires protection or preparation, so that this phenomenon does not occur again. They need to understand and act more cautiously, being more responsible and thinking things through,” Gek Diah stated.
Furthermore, Gek Diah pointed out that the government has already responded to this issue with the 2019 Law No. 16, which amended Law No. 1 of 1974 on Marriage. This law stipulates that marriage is only allowed when both the man and woman have reached the age of 19. Parents of either party may request a dispensation from the court if there are urgent reasons, supported by evidence. The court must hear the opinions of both prospective spouses before granting a dispensation.
It is also mentioned that marriage must be based on the mutual consent of both parties, and to marry, individuals under 21 years old must obtain consent from both parents. “This law was made to prevent child marriage, which can have negative impacts on a child’s development,” concluded Gek Diah. rl/nda/sathya
