A Juridical Review of Legal Protection for Women in the Practice of Contractual Marriage within Indonesia’s National Legal System
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Abstract
The practice of contractual marriage in Indonesia contradicts the principles of permanency and official registration mandated by the Marriage Law, placing women and children in conditions of legal and social vulnerability, particularly concerning alimony, inheritance, and the status of children. his study applies a normative juridical method by examining statutory regulations, legal doctrines, and court interpretations to evaluate the consistency and adequacy of existing protections. The legal framework under review includes the Marriage Law, the Compilation of Islamic Law (KHI), the Law on the Eradication of Human Trafficking (UU TPPO), the Sexual Violence Law (UU TPKS), and the Child Protection Law. Through this approach, contractual marriages are classified as both civilly invalid and as practices that may fall under sexual exploitation and human trafficking.The findings demonstrate concretely that contractual marriage lacks legal recognition under the KHI and, because it is unregistered, denies women and children access to fundamental rights such as inheritance and alimony. The absence of uniform legal acknowledgment worsens victims’ vulnerabilities, while remedies such as restitution remain fragmented and inconsistently applied. Methodological clarity is achieved by linking the normative juridical analysis to specific legal outcomes: invalidity under marriage law, classification under TPPO/TPKS provisions, and implications for child protection. The study concludes that harmonization of regulations is essential, particularly through clearer integration between religious and civil courts, consistent registration mechanisms between KUA and Dukcapil, and victim-centered enforcement. While broader policy debates exist, the core recommendation is the explicit criminalization of contractual marriage to eliminate legal ambiguity and ensure concrete protection for women and children.
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