Coordinating Minister Puan: Government Still Assessing Minimum Age of Marriage

INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani said the government is currently reviewing the minimum marriage age limit for women.

"This is a discussion and study, many things that must be studied from the aspects of religion, culture, rights of a human being," said Puan in Jakarta, Wednesday (7/3/2018).

But Puan insists the government is committed to rising the minimum age of marriage for women. Currently the minimum age of marriage for men is 18 years, and for women 16 years old.

"This is what we are doing, whether through a law change, or Perppu, but it cannot be done instantly," Puan said.

Until now, there is already a draft of government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) which rises the minimum age of marriage for women to be above 16 years old. But Puan explained it is still under consideration of the president.

She admitted that early marriage rates in Indonesia are still relatively high due to some problems such as children who drop out of school, or seen from the aspects of religion and culture.

In the meantime Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Girls Not Brides, the world organization that is engaged in ending an early marriage, Princess Mabel van Oranje met with the PMK Coordinating Minister discussed the issue in Indonesia.

Princess Mabel appreciates the Indonesian government's efforts to resolve the issue with an integrated approach from education, health, culture, religion, and so on.