Child Social Vulnerability and Child Marriage Practices in Grobogan Regency: A Context-Based Analysis of Child Protection Policy

This study examines the phenomenon of child marriage in Grobogan Regency by focusing on the relationship between child vulnerability and the effectiveness of child protection policies within a local context. Despite the revision of the legal minimum marriage age to 19 years through Law No. 16 of 2019, child marriage remains a persistent social issue. Data from the Religious Court of Purwodadi indicate that there were 562 cases in 2024, 463 cases in 2025, and 152 cases from January to April 2026, totaling 1,177 cases. This condition highlights a significant gap between policy formulation and its implementation at the local level. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, this study explores the multidimensional vulnerability of children, particularly girls, which includes economic hardship, limited access to education, weak bargaining power within families, and strong socio-cultural pressures. The findings reveal that child marriage is not merely an individual choice but a structural outcome shaped by gender inequality and restricted capabilities. Furthermore, social norms and community influence play a crucial role in sustaining the practice, often overriding formal legal frameworks. Although various prevention efforts have been implemented through policy interventions, socialization programs, and institutional coordination, these efforts remain fragmented and insufficiently integrated. The study concludes that addressing child marriage requires a comprehensive and multisectoral approach that combines legal enforcement, economic empowerment, educational access, and transformation of social norms. Strengthening local governance capacity and community engagement is essential to ensure more effective and sustainable child protection policies.