Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Arifah Fauzi strongly condemned a recent controversial case of child marriage in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, involving a 17-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl.

“Marrying off children violates their basic rights — including the right to education, protection, and proper development,” she said in Jakarta on Thursday (29/5/2025). “This is a clear case of child marriage and cannot be justified by tradition or culture.”

The minister emphasized that under Indonesian law, the minimum legal age for marriage is 19 for both men and women.

Child marriage, Minister Arifah noted, is not only illegal but also carries potential criminal and administrative penalties. It is recognized under Law No. 12 of 2022 on Sexual Violence Crimes as a form of sexual violence when forced.

“Child marriage is a national development issue. It drives school dropouts, stunting, and lower education levels — especially in high-risk regions,” she added, as quoted by antara news.com.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)