When Courts Permit Child Marriage: Judicial Discretion and the Limits of Child Protection in Indonesia

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30983/usraty.v4i1.11285

Keywords:

Child Marriage, Child Protection, Judicial Discretion, Judicial Review, Marriage Dispensation

Abstract

This study examines the effectiveness of marriage dispensation adjudication in protecting children’s rights following the enactment of Supreme Court Regulation (PERMA) No. 5 of 2019. Although Law No. 16 of 2019 raised the minimum marriage age to 19 years for both men and women, marriage dispensation applications remain prevalent, raising concerns about the consistency of child protection in judicial practice. This study analyzes how PERMA No. 5 of 2019 is implemented in marriage dispensation decisions and evaluates the extent to which the principle of the best interests of the child is incorporated into judicial reasoning. Using normative legal research with statutory and conceptual approaches, the study analyzes primary, secondary, and tertiary legal materials through qualitative descriptive-analytical methods and legal interpretation. The analysis indicates that PERMA No. 5 of 2019 strengthens judicial scrutiny by requiring greater consideration of children’s welfare, but its effectiveness remains constrained by social, economic, educational, and cultural circumstances. Premarital pregnancy, economic hardship, limited educational opportunities, and social norms that normalize early marriage continue to influence judicial considerations and dispensation applications. These conditions create a gap between normative child protection standards and their practical implementation. This study contributes to the discourse on judicial discretion by emphasizing the need for consistent child-centered interpretation, stricter assessment of urgent circumstances, and stronger preventive policies addressing the structural factors underlying child marriage.

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2026-05-05

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Yasniwati, Y., Fitri, D., Rosa, M., Yanri, D., & Hardianto, A. (2026). When Courts Permit Child Marriage: Judicial Discretion and the Limits of Child Protection in Indonesia. USRATY : Journal of Islamic Family Law, 4(1), 86–99. https://doi.org/10.30983/usraty.v4i1.11285

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Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026): USRATY : Journal of Islamic Family Law

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