Child marriage dispensations decreased by 7% in 2021.

The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) reported that in 2021, Religious Courts granted 59,709 cases of dispensations for child marriage. This figure represents a 7.01% decrease compared to the 64,211 cases in 2020.

A dispensation is the granting of permission for someone to marry before reaching the minimum legal marriage age.

Although decreasing, the number of child marriages in 2021 remains high. However, the decrease in dispensations could mark a positive start in the prevention of child marriage.

Since 2016, the trend shows an increase in dispensations for child marriage. The highest increase occurred in 2020, with 64,211 cases—a threefold increase compared to 2019.

This increase is due to the ease with which applications for marriage dispensations are granted. This ease can be attributed to several factors, including urgent situations such as the girl being pregnant, at risk, or already sexually active, or the couple being in love.

Furthermore, parents' belief that the child is at risk of violating religious and social norms or to avoid zina (premarital sex) is suspected to be a reason for granting applications for child marriage dispensations.

Marriage dispensation is defined as a leniency granted by the religious court to prospective spouses under the age of 19 to proceed with marriage. This dispensation is regulated under Law No. 16 of 2019, which amends Law No. 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage.