International Journal of Governmental Studies and Humanities (IJGH) http://ejournal.ipdn.ac.id/index.php/ijgsh ROLE OF LOCAL INSTITUTION IN EARLY MARRIAGE ISSUE: A CASE STUDY IN SOME PROVINCES IN INDONESIA Tubagus Adi Satria1, Rezariansyah Abdullah2, Fajar Ajie Setiawan3, Fitriana Putri Hapsari4 Anggota Komite Pemantau Resiko (Dewan Pengawas BPJS Kesehatan) Kampus Universitas Moetopo Beragama Department of International Relation (Universitas Wanita Internasional) Department of International Relation (Universitas Lintas Internasional Indonesia) *Correspondence: [email protected] ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article History: The impact of early marriage is closely related to the economic received condition of the family and affects the poverty of women who revised experience it. This study aims to comprehensively examine the extent accepted to which local socio-economic condition affects early marriage and the extent of policy-makers’ role in preventing it. In addition, this study also aims to obtain inaccurate overview of current policies and policy Keywords: recommendations related to government’s effort in controlling Child marriage; early marriage; marriage age in Indonesia. Data were obtained using cross-sectional institutional role; policy method in four provinces with high marriage rates based on Riskesdas coordination. 2010 data (South Kalimantan, Bangka Belitung, Central Sulawesi and West Java). The research is qualitative using explorative approach. Based on the research result, the root of early marriage problem in four provinces is related to several dimensions such as: modernization, education, economic and socio-cultural pressure. Another result of the analysis is that the role of customary and religious institutions are very strategic as a tool of social control in controlling early marriage. In addition, it was concluded that weak inter-sectoral coordination and government policy planning in early marriage control are among the issues to be addressed. INTRODUCTION 19 have a much greater 11.7% rate when In 2011, Indonesia is one of the world's most compared with young men aged 15-19 years of married percentages, ranked 37th in the world 1.6%. Statistically, the concentration of young (UNDESA, 2011). This position is the second marriage rate is high especially in Kalimantan highest in ASEAN after Cambodia. Logically (Kalteng, Kaltim, and Kalsel) Java (Banten, according to Riskesdas data, young women in West Java, and East Java) and Bangka Indonesia with intervals aged 10-14 years. In Belitung and Central Sulawesi. Based on data 2011, Indonesia is a country with a high from Riskesdas 2010, provinces with the percentage of young marriages in the world, highest percentage of early marriage (<15 ranked 37th in the world (UNDESA, 2011) years) are South Kalimantan (9 percent), West .This position is the second highest in ASEAN Java (7.5 percent), East Kalimantan and after Cambodia. In fact, according to Central Kalimantan 7 percent and Banten 6.5 Riskesdas data, young women in Indonesia Percent. The provinces with the highest with married age interval 10-14 years are 0.2 percentage of early marriage for the highest percent or more than 22,000 young women 15-19 years interval were Central Kalimantan aged 10-14 years in Indonesia are married Province (52.1%), West Java (50.2%), and before the age of 15 years (Badan Penelitian South Kalimantan (48.4%), Bangka Belitung dan Pengembangan Kesehatan, 2011). At (47.9%) and Central Sulawesi (46.3%). higher age intervals, married women aged 15- 61 impoverishment of women who experience it. Those after marriage tend to drop out of school and gain low levels of education, decreased social status or subordination in the family, loss of reproductive health rights, high maternal mortality from childbearing to domestic violence (Field & Ambrus, 2008). Field &Ambrus also said: Early marriage is associated with a number of poor social and physical outcomes for young women and their Figure 1Percentage of Women 10-59 Years offspring. They attain lower schooling, Old by Age of First Marriage, Riskesdas 2010 lower social status in their husbands' families, have less reproductive control, Nationally, controlling the level of early and suffer higher rates of maternal marriage becomes crucial because the overall mortality and domestic violence. They causes and consequences are highly related to are often forced out of school without the achievement of the MDGs, among others; an education; their health is affected Goal 1. Eradicating poverty and hunger, Goal because their bodies are too immature 2. Achieving universal primary education, to give birth. Goal 3. Promoting gender equality, Goal 4. In the research of Choe, Thapa, and Protecting children’s lives and Goal 5&6. Achmad (2001) revealed that marriage before Improving Health. Basically the legal basis the age of 18 years generally occurs in for eradicating marriage at the global level has Indonesian women, especially in rural areas. been set in various international conventions, This can be attributed to low education, so that among others; Universal Declaration of with a higher education women are closely Human Rights, Supplementary Convention on tied to the slower age of adolescent marriage. the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery, Gap access opportunities both in terms of Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum well-being and equality affect the position of Age for Marriage and Registration of women in decision making in early marriage. Marriages, International Covenant on Based on Jones and Gubhaju's research (2008), Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, in the last few decades, changes in the trend of Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of marriage age are more prevalent in urban areas Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and in some provinces that further widen the gap Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). between rural and urban areas in Indonesia. Similarly, at the national level the legal In addition, early marriage can also be basis is already regulated in the Marriage Act caused by culture that is still very permissive no. 1/1974, Child Protection Law no. 23/2002, arranging marriage early on especially for and Domestic Violence Law. 23/2004 and the women. Early marriage in Indonesia Human Rights Law. In fact, Indonesia still frequently reflects a marriage that has been cannot protect it. Until now Indonesia has not arranged or because of pregnancy outside set the legal minimum age of marriage is 18 marriage (Jones & Gubhaju, 2008). In this years and over, but until 2010 there have been arranged marriage women have always been 158 countries with legal minimum married age married to young people. This suggests that is 18 years and over. On the basis of the asymmetric gender relations are most above, then the early marriage in Indonesia prevalent in younger women in the issue of still has a chance to keep happening early marriage. Based on several variations of considering the factors of legality that have not the study, it is illustrated that asymmetrical been fully formulated and cultural factors of gender relations are strongly influenced by different institutional and characteristics in social, economic and cultural factors each region so as to encourage the creation of (Moeljarto, 1997). early marriage. The consequence of this early marriage is very closely related to the 62 The issue of low economic and Data were obtained by cross sectional in 4 educational needs has also always been one of provinces that experienced high marriage the causes of gender discrimination in women, based on Riskesdas 2010 data, among others, including in the issue of early marriage. South Kalimantan, Bangka Belitung, Central Research by Klasen and Wink (2002) show Sulawesi and West Java. Study done on where areas with increased education and Family and Local Policy Makers. In addition, welfare experience a decline in gender bias site selection was chosen because the four and areas with poor education and well-being selected provinces had overpopulated cause gender bias to remain unchanged and deteriorate. tendency above the national population growth rate (1.49%) in which the four provinces were On the basis of the background of the above South Kalimantan (1.98%), Bangka Belitung problems it is necessary to conduct field (3.14) Central Sulawesi (1,94%) and West studies on the causes and impacts of early Java (1.89%). In addition, a more in-depth marriage, especially in terms of socio- study will be conducted in one local district in economic population in Indonesia, especially each province that tends to be overpopulated, in provinces with the highest prevalence of among others Kab. Banjar (Kalsel), Kab. early marriage. Thus, the research questions South Bangka (Bangka Belitung), Donggala that need to be answered are 1) the extent of (Central Sulawesi) and Kab. Cianjur (Jabar). the current population impacts in the region associated with early marriage; and 2) how the RESULT AND DISCUSSION institutional role and policy interventions that A. The Cause of Early Marriage exist so far and what needs to be done so that The adolescent period is a preparatory the marriage control policy can be done period toward adulthood, one of which is the precisely and accurately. psychic preparation associated with marriage This study aims to obtain a comprehensive and family formation (Hurlock, 1990). This picture of the extent to which the socio- adolescent period then becomes an important economic impact of population occurring in period in human growth given the many the region associated with early marriage processes, both physical and psychic, that phenomena and the extent to which the occur within it. This growth process can be decision-making role in preventing it. In disrupted by several things, one of which is early marriage. Early marriage is then addition, the study also aims to obtain an considered an important issue that must have overview of current policies and accurate clear boundaries, not only on a national scale policy recommendation recommendations but also internationally.