TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The secretary-general of the Indonesian Female Coalition, Dian Kartikasari, said that 59 percent of all marriages are of women below 18-year-old, making them prone to a string of problems, including psychological and physical ones, which increased their death risks.
"Women are trapped within a constitution that allows them to be involved in child marriages," said Dian before the Constitutional Court (MK), on Thursday, June 18, 2015.
Dian said that all female coalitions and 18+ coalitions were disappointed with MK’s decision that set the minimum age for women to tie the knot at 16. They claimed the government shared the responsibility in gender discrimination that took away women’s rights for education and health.
The coalition highlighted that 20 percent of marriages involved 13-15-year-olds, which contradicted the recommended minimum age stipulated by Law No. 1/1974 on Marriage, while those with brides aged 15-17-year-old were 39 percent.
Dian said the reproduction organs of women at those ages had yet to fully develop, which contributed to marital and infant mortality rates. She also said that child marriages had deprived women of their rights for higher education.
"We will continue our legal attempts," said Dian.
FRANSISCO ROSARIANS