STRATEGY OF THE INSTITUTE FOR COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT AND EMPOWERMENT IN EFFORTS TO PREVENT CHILD MARRIAGE THROUGH EMPOWERING GRASSROOTS WOMEN IN LINTAU BUO UTARA, INDONESIA

Ritma Fitri
S.IP, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia, ritmafitri05@gmail.com

Abstract

Child marriage rates in Indonesia continue to increase and cause for concern. Data from UNICEF, the World Children's Country, child marriage in Indonesia is ranked 7th in the world and the second highest of all member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Besides affecting the human development index (HDI), child marriage also affects the poverty depth index which can threaten the failure of sustainable development goals (SDGs). Child marriages have an impact on low levels of education because children leave school, have limited access to economic opportunities, are vulnerable to violence, mental health and an increased risk of maternal and infant mortality. Several studies conducted by social science experts at several universities in Indonesia state that the factors that cause an increase in child marriage in Indonesia are mainly caused by economic factors and the stereotype that marrying children at a young age can help ease the burden on parents. At present, the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (Kemen PPPA) together with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) encourage all efforts and cooperation with stakeholders to reduce child marriage rates in Indonesia. One of the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that also focus on encouraging child marriage prevention is the Community Empowerment and Assessment Institute (LP2M) in West Sumatra. One of the areas targeted by the LP2M program is North Lintau Buo District through the empowerment of grassroots women. This sub-district is one area that is still high with child marriage rates and lack of access and community development services. The empowerment strategy undertaken by LP2M departs from the Sara Hlupekile Longwe empowerment framework known as the "Longwe Framework". The purpose of this study is to describe the LP2M strategy in preventing child marriage through empowering grassroots women in Lintau Buo Utara sub-district. The method used in this study uses a descriptive qualitative approach through in-depth interviews, observation and document search. The findings of this study are that LP2M has two main strategies to prevent child marriage in Lintau Buo Tanah Datar through a women's reproductive health program that is organizing grassroots women by strengthening the economy and increasing women's capacity and through advocating for reproductive health rights by encouraging solutive regional policies.

Keywords: empowerment, child marriage, poverty and grassroots women