Usia Perkawinan dan Perlindungan Hak Perempuan dalam Perspektif Socio – Legal (Studi Pelaku Perkawinan di Bawah Umur di Kecamatan Tembalang Kota Semarang)

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to analyze the regulation of the minimum age of marriage in Indonesia, its implications for the protection of women’s rights, and the strategies to prevent child marriage from a socio-legal perspective.

Methodology/Approach/Design: This research employs a socio-legal approach with a descriptive-analytical specification. The study utilizes both primary and secondary data obtained through document analysis and field research. The data were analyzed qualitatively to assess the conformity between legal norms and their implementation within society.

Results and Discussion: The findings indicate that the minimum age of marriage has been clearly regulated under Indonesian legislation; however, its implementation remains significantly influenced by social and cultural factors. Child marriage has serious implications for the protection of women’s and children’s rights, including the loss of access to education, health, and gender equality. In the Sendangmulyo community, public awareness regarding the minimum legal age of marriage has gradually improved, as reflected in the declining incidence of underage marriage. Nevertheless, persistent challenges include the limited availability of educational policies concerning women’s rights protection, insufficient inter-agency coordination among governmental institutions, and inadequate public understanding of the long-term consequences of early marriage.

Practical Implications: This study underscores the necessity of strengthening preventive strategies through legal awareness campaigns, improved access to education, and stricter oversight in granting marriage dispensations, in order to ensure the effective and sustainable protection of women’s rights.