Why Indonesia's women development minister is pitching for higher marriage age

One in every six women is a child bride in Indonesia and the rate of underage marriage has increased steeply to 35 percent. Going by world ranking in case of child marriages, Indonesia ranks seventh in the world. 

International law limit 18 years for marriage but Indonesia’s Marriage Law limited marriage of girls to above the age of 16 till yesterday.

Keeping the widespread campaign and country's child marriage limit in mind, Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Yembise called on the House of Representatives to revise 1974 Marriage Law. The minister also sought an increase in the minimum age of marriage.

In the meeting with the House Commission VIII, she pressurised on the importance of the revision in the 1974 Marriage Law.

Yohana told lawmakers, "A proposal to revise the Marriage Law has been listed in the 2015-2019 national legislation program, but it is not included in the 2018 priority." 

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