Hammam Izzuddin, Cantika.com, Jakarta – A Researcher from the Indonesian Institute (TII), Made Natasya Restu Dewi Pratiwi, stated that the prevalence of child marriage cases in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) needs attention. Natasya believes that the implementation of Law Number 12 of 2022 on Sexual Violence Criminal Acts (TPKS) is still overshadowed by local cultural traditions.

Natasya mentioned that the government needs to involve community figures from NTB to raise awareness about the dangers of the tradition of "merariq" or child marriage. This can be done by establishing age and marriage readiness standards that must be met in granting permission for merariq. "To prevent the spread of misinterpreted cultural norms, these standards must be included in regional regulations," Natasya said in her written statement on Monday, June 9, 2025.

She cited data from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in 2024, which stated that NTB has the highest rate of child marriage in Indonesia. There were 6,200 cases of child marriage in NTB, equivalent to 14.96 percent of the national cases.

According to her, this data shows that regulations have not addressed the root of the problem and are not accompanied by sufficient social awareness in NTB. There is already Regional Regulation Number 5 of 2021 concerning the prevention of child marriage in NTB.

In the latest case in NTB, a 14-year-old girl, identified as SY, married a 16-year-old boy. The Diyok Stars' Facebook account uploaded a video of their wedding that went viral.

The Chairman of the Child Protection Agency (LPA) in Mataram, Joko Jumani, is concerned that the video could become a form of legitimization for the community to normalize child marriage. LPA Mataram has reported those who facilitated the marriage to the Central Lombok Police.

– M Rizki Yusrial contributed to this article

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2015832/ntb-traditions-undermine-child-marriage-laws-in-indonesi