Marriage Dispensation Justifies the Exploitation of Underage Marriage - Resky Mutiarani Gazali; Nurhaedah Nurhaedah; Sahban Sahban (ADVANCED PRIVATE LEGAL INSIGHTS, 2025)
Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pelaksanaan dispensasi kawin yang menitikberatkan pada pertimbangan hakim terkait penerapan prinsip kepentingan terbaik bagi anak serta faktor-faktor yang memengaruhi dikabulkannya permohonan dispensasi kawin. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah metode penelitian hukum empiris. Penelitian ini menawarkan kebaruan dengan menampilkan data terbaru mengenai dispensasi kawin serta mengungkap adanya perubahan sosial, yaitu pergeseran inisiatif pengajuan dispensasi yang tidak lagi didominasi oleh orang tua, melainkan berasal dari anak sebagai pemohon. Fenomena ini merupakan temuan yang relatif baru dan masih jarang dibahas dalam penelitian sebelumnya. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa prinsip kepentingan terbaik bagi anak sebagai dasar utama dalam memutus permohonan dispensasi kawin dengan mempertimbangkan aspek kesehatan, psikologis, keberlanjutan pendidikan, dan perlindungan terhadap janin serta pertimbangan hubungan kedekatan para pemohon. Disamping faktor kehamilan di luar perkawinan, pertimbangan hakim juga dipengaruhi oleh faktor sosial dan budaya, seperti tekanan keluarga, stigma sosial, praktik perkawinan dini yang mengakar, serta pergeseran inisiatif pengajuan dispensasi. Hasil ini mengindikasikan adanya perbedaan praktik yang terjadi di UPTD PPA yang cenderung menempatkan kehamilan di luar nikah sebagai pertimbangan utama dalam pemberian surat rekomendasi nikah. Penelitian ini menyarankan agar hakim dan UPTD PPA dalam menangani perkara dispensasi kawin lebih memprioritaskan kepentingan terbaik bagi anak dengan memperhatikan dampak jangka panjang serta perlindungan terhadap janin jika terjadi kehamilan. Selain itu, diperlukan penjelasan yang lebih jelas mengenai kriteria “alasan mendesak” agar masyarakat memahami dasar pemberian dispensasi kawin dan dapat mencegah terjadinya perkawinan yang dipaksakan terhadap anak.   Abstract This study aims to determine the implementation of marriage dispensation that focuses on the judge's consideration regarding the application of the principle of the best interests of the child and the factors that influence the granting of marriage dispensation requests. The research method used is empirical legal research. This study offers novelty by presenting the latest data on marriage dispensations and revealing social changes, namely a shift in the initiative to apply for dispensations, which is no longer dominated by parents but comes from children as applicants. This phenomenon is a relatively new finding and has rarely been discussed in previous studies. The results of the study show that the principle of the best interests of the child is the main basis for deciding on marriage dispensation requests, taking into account aspects of health, psychology, educational continuity, and protection of the fetus, as well as the closeness of the relationship between the applicants. In addition to the factor of pregnancy outside of marriage, the judge's considerations are also influenced by social and cultural factors, such as family pressure, social stigma, deep-rooted practices of early marriage, and shifts in the initiative to apply for dispensation. These results indicate differences in practice at the UPTD PPA, which tends to place pregnancy outside of marriage as the main consideration in issuing marriage recommendation letters. This study suggests that judges and UPTD PPA in handling marriage dispensation cases should prioritize the best interests of the child by considering the long-term impact and protection of the fetus in the event of pregnancy. In addition, a clearer explanation of the criteria for “urgent reasons” is needed so that the public understands the basis for granting marriage dispensation and can prevent forced marriages of children.