All villages in West Lombok have pledged non-involvement and refusal to facilitate child marriages, it has been reported, following the controversial union of a young man with two underage girls in the regency recently.
Erni Suryana, secretary of the Family Planning, Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection agency in West Lombok, told Detik that officials held a meeting this week with village chiefs in the regency, whereby they all signed the pledge. “[They all signed] a letter indicating that they will not be involved or facilitate child marriages. Officers from the West Lombok Police will also be present,” Erni previously said.
“After we have done this in all the districts [in West Lombok], if [child marriage] happens again, we will drag them to face the law.” Data from the agency shows that there were 245 cases of child marriage in West Lombok since January this year.
