The Regent of Gowa, Sitti Husniah Talenrang, has warned of the hidden\nthreat of child marriage that continues to occur in the field, often\naccompanied by early pregnancies. Behind the drastic drop in prevalence\nfrom 21.1% to 17% based on the 2024 Indonesia Nutrition Status Survey\n(SSGI), serious issues still lurk.<\/p>\n
\u201cChild marriage halts education, forces children to bear\nresponsibilities prematurely, and opens the door to a generation of\nstunting. This is the cycle that we must break now,\u201d she stressed at the\nHalal Bihalal and Socialisation event to Prevent Child Marriage and\nStunting for an Advanced Gowa, held at Baruga Tinggimae, the Regent\u2019s\nOfficial Residence in Gowa, on Thursday (9\/4).<\/p>\n
The event, attended by around 700 participants from various women\u2019s\norganisations, Majelis Ta\u2019lim, and community elements, was a\ncollaboration between the Indonesian Religious Counsellors Association\n(IKAPEN RI) and the Gowa District Majelis Ta\u2019lim Working Group.<\/p>\n
Gowa Regency has recently achieved Third Place in the Best\nAnti-Stunting Action Innovation Category across South Sulawesi. The\nflagship \u201cASS\u201d (Anti-Stunting Action) programme has been deemed\nsuccessful. However, the Regent, affectionately known as Regent\nTalenrang, is not complacent.<\/p>\n
She revealed facts from the field that underage marriages still\noccur, even with prior pregnancies. \u201cIf we remain silent, we share the\nresponsibility. If we neglect it, we risk Gowa\u2019s future,\u201d she\nstated.<\/p>\n
Therefore, she called for active roles from KUA (Office of Religious\nAffairs) to remote areas to socialise the dangers of early marriage.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want KUA to reach remote villages. Marriage must be with\nreadiness, not just haste. Children must grow up healthy, not just\ngrow,\u201d she urged.<\/p>\n
Regent Talenrang emphasised that the \u201cwar against child marriage and\nstunting\u201d is not solely the government\u2019s responsibility. She invited\nMajelis Ta\u2019lim to be at the forefront of social change.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope the mothers of Majelis Ta\u2019lim do not just attend but become\ndrivers of change,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
On the same occasion, she also outlined five regional priority\nprogrammes that require public support: Gowa Annangkasi (Clean), Gowa\nCaradde (Smart) through the Gowa Mengaji Movement, Gowa Masunggu\n(Prosperous) for eradicating extreme poverty, Gowa Salewangan (Healthy),\nand Gowa Masannang (Safe).<\/p>\n
The Head of the Gowa Regency Ministry of Religious Affairs, Jamaris,\nstated that he would strengthen collaboration with women\u2019s organisations\ndown to the village level.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will partner with PKK, Dharma Wanita, and Majelis Ta\u2019lim. They\ninteract directly with the community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that cultural challenges and parents\u2019 concerns about\nrejecting proposals still trigger early marriages. \u201cThis is a situation\nwe must face together,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Committee Chair, Fatmawati (Islamic Religious\nCounsellor of Somba Opu Subdistrict), highlighted the importance of the\nFirst 1,000 Days of Life (HPK) in efforts to reduce stunting. \u201cThe role\nof women\u2019s organisations is very strategic in realising an Advanced\nGowa,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
Although Gowa shows progress, child marriage rates in South Sulawesi\nremain a major homework. Based on UNICEF and Ministry of Religious\nAffairs data, the child marriage prevalence in South Sulawesi in 2024\nreached 8.09%, far above the national average of 5.90%. South Sulawesi\nis now ranked 11th nationally.<\/p>\n
Previously, the UNICEF Representative for Sulawesi and Maluku, Henky\nWijaya, warned that a decrease in marriage dispensations is not good\nnews if accompanied by a shift to unregistered siri marriages.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen dispensations are tightened, child marriages do not\nautomatically disappear. What happens is a shift to siri marriages,\u201d he\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Data on child pregnancies in several regencies also show spikes: Gowa\nrecorded 304 pregnant children, but only 8 marriage dispensations\napplied for. Makassar 331 pregnant, 9 dispensations. Bone 241 pregnant,\n10 dispensations. Takalar 204 pregnant, 0 dispensations.<\/p>\n
Henky added that the risk of maternal mortality for births under 18\nyears old is five times higher than for adult mothers. Additionally,\nchildren from siri marriages often lack birth certificates, hindering\naccess to education, health, and social assistance.<\/p>\n
The hope is that with cross-sector collaboration and grassroots\nmovements, Gowa not only records a decline in stunting but also breaks\nthe chain of child marriage forever.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gowa-regent-declares-war-on-child-marriage-and-stunting-1775731867", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }