Rasminah along with her peers, Endang Wasrinah, 38, and Maryanti, 33 were battling child marriage.
By
ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI and SONYA HELLEN SINOMBOR
·6 minutes read
KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI
Rasminah
Rasminah, 35, will never forget Thursday, 13 December 2018. On that day, the Constitutional Court granted the request for a judicial review filed by Rasminah along with her peers, Endang Wasrinah, 38, and Maryanti, 33. They were battling child marriage.
Rasminah lives in a remote part of Krimun village, Losarang district. Indramayu regency, West Java. It is around 35 kilometers from the seat of the Indramayu administration. Her house has cemented floors. Its ceiling is made from tarpaulin and used banners.
In this house measuring about 6 meters by 7 meters, Rasminah lives with her five children. They are witnesses to her struggle for survival. “This is my first child. He’s 22 and is already married,” she said, pointing at Taryamin, on Friday (16/4/2021).
My marriage lasted only a year. My husband left for an unknown destination.
She gave birth to Taryamin at the age of 14. She was married off to a man twice her age when she was 13, after finishing primary school. “My marriage lasted only a year. My husband left for an unknown destination,” she recalled.
At 16, Rasminah was again married off and had a child, Julina. Yet again, her marriage was short-lived. Her husband went away and was no longer in contact. She was forced to try her luck in Jakarta as a food stall worker. After three months, her parents asked her to return home.
At home, she had to face another marriage. Her groom came from Cikedung, some 20 kilometers from her home. In her seven-year marriage, Rasminah had a daughter named Wika. She took care of not only her child and spouse but also her in-laws, their rice field and cattle. Her burden got heavier after her foot was bitten by a snake and decomposed. She walked with one leg supported by a crutch.
ARSIP PRIBADI
Maryanti
She suffered even more when her husband died. She chose to go back to her village home. Then, Rasminah met Runata, a farm worker. With her fourth spouse, she claimed to be happy.
In 2016, Rasminah met with Darwini, an activist of the Indonesian Women’s Coalition (KPI). Later she was engaged in discussions on child marriage prevention. As a result, along with Endang Wasrinah (from Indramayu) and Maryanti (Central Bengkulu) also as victims of child marriage, she filed a lawsuit against Law No.1/1974 on Marriage.
Assisted by the 18+ Coalition Team, they strived to raise the minimum marriageable age for women from 16 to 19 by requesting a judicial review of Article 7 Paragraph 1 of Law No 1/1974 from the Constitutional Court (MK).
The three child marriage victims’ pursuit was successful. Their judicial review request was granted by the MK on 13 December 2018. The MK stated that child marriage, especially that of underage girls, contravened the constitution. The provision in Article 7 Paragraph (1) of Law No.1/1974 on Marriage, stipulating the minimum age of marriage for women at 16 while putting it for men at 19, is discriminatory in nature.
“At the time, we could only hope no more youngsters would be having the same fate as mine, being married off at an early age,” said Rasminah.
For Rasminah and peers, the MK decision and the Marriage Law revision were the most beautiful gift for child marriage victims, especially female ones. Endang became a child marriage victim at 14. She was forced to leave school after being married off to a 37-year-old widower with a child. Endang was asked to look after her step child and only given Rp20,000 per day.
Before long, Endang returned to her mother’s home due to her health condition, particularly her reproductive organ that was unable to have intercourse. Her mother was angered and asked Endang’s spouse to divorce her.
ARSIP PRIBADI
Endang Wasrinah
At 18, Endang was married to a man she loved. To date, Endang has had three children.
After filing for a judicial review with the MK, Endang, who joined the KPI of Indramayu, was intensively campaigning to stop child marriage. As she wants no more girls to share her fate, Endang won’t stop talking when she finds her neighbors intending to arrange their underage children’s marriage.
The same expectation is also expressed by Maryanti. She wants no other children to face the same fate she had when her father forced her to get marries at 14 for economic reasons.
Her father owed money to her would-be spouse. Although Maryanti had fled her home and wanted to commit suicide, she was helpless and finally accepted the marriage for being threatened by her dad.
Maryanti had a difficult marriage life. She experienced two miscarriages due to her weak womb. The third child was born but only lived for four months. She could only bear a child after she was over 20. “My parents thought if their child got married the family’s economic burden would be reduced. Actually, it doesn’t solve the problem,” said Maryanti.
Thank God, our sacrifice is rewarding. This is for my children and women in Indonesia
On 6 March 2019, Rasminah, Endang and Maryanti had the opportunity to meet with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo. Rasminah requested the President not to delay, let alone reject, the proposed revision of the minimum marriageable age. “Pak Jokowi said, ‘Yes, I’ll tell them not to delay it, Mbak’,” she imitated the President’s words.
On 16 August 2019 a historic day was recorded for women in the country. On that day, the House of Representatives’ plenary meeting endorsed Law No.16/2019 on the Amendment to Law No.1/1974 on Marriage, raising the minimum age of marriage for women from 16 to 19 years old (equal to the age for men).
“Thank God, our sacrifice is rewarding. This is for my children and women in Indonesia,” added Rasminah.
Rasminah
Born:4 November 1985
Husband: Runata
Children: five
Education: Karangsari State Primary School, Krimun village
Awards:
- Indonesian Women’s Coalition of Indramayu Award for Participating in Women’s Opportunity toward the status of Prestigious Indramayu (2021)
- Indramayu Regional Council’s Appreciation for the Successful Request for Judicial Review of Law No.1/1974 on Marriage filed with the Constitutional Court.
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