Underage Marriage Rate in NTB Rises During Covid-19

jpnn.com, LOMBOK TENGAH - During the Covid-19 pandemic, the rate of underage or early childhood marriages in Central Lombok regency, West Nusa Tenggara, has increased.

This can be seen from the number of married couples that apply for a marriage dispensation at the Praya Religious Court that has reached hundreds.

"From January to November 2021, 297 minors have applied for a marriage dispensation," said the junior registrar at the court, Salman, Monday (8/11).

He said that not all of the couples were approved because in some cases, the bride and groom were too young, namely under 16 years old.

He said that in such cases, both parties were asked to postpone their marriage.

"There were 260 people that were approved, and the rest were rejected because they were under 16 years old," he said.

Initially, the minimum age for people to get married according to the law was 16, but a revision was made to Law Number 16/2019 that the minimum age for marriage is now 19 for both women and men.

"If you look at the cases that apply for a marriage dispensation, the number of child marriages during this pandemic has been quite high in Central Lombok," he said.