Young people challenging child marriage in indonesia - indonesia
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CHANGE STORY young people challenging child marriage in Indonesia INDONESIA
Until recently, adolescent girls in Inti Muda, a youth-led network Changing practices
Indonesia could be legally married that focuses on sexual and
at the age of 16, or even younger reproductive health and rights With PITCH’s support, Inti Muda
if local officials gave permission. (SRHR) for young people most began building relationships in
The country has one of the highest affected by HIV, has used its Papuan communities in 2018,
rates of child marriage in the world. close links with marginalised strategically targeting
This has exposed many adolescent young people to ensure news of adolescents and young people,
girls to an early sexual debut and the law change is reaching the plus stakeholders including
frequent unprotected sex and is communities where it matters the traditional and religious leaders,
one of the drivers of Indonesia’s most. teachers, government officials
HIV epidemic in some areas. and the media.
This includes the rural province
In May 2019, advocacy from of Papua where child marriage Slowly they introduced training
a coalition of community is common. Unlike the rest of workshops that focus on young
organisations, including PITCH Indonesia, Papua has a generalised people’s SRHR, discussing topics
partners the Institute for Criminal HIV epidemic and in 2016 was such as gender equality, gender-
Justice Reform and Yayasan experiencing new infections at based violence and safer sex.
Aliansi Remaja Independen (the 15 times the national rate, with With other PITCH partners, Inti
Independent Youth Alliance), women of reproductive age Muda created an accompanying
resulted in the Indonesian particularly affected. training module on young people’s
Government increasing the SRHR, plus an additional module
“A lot of girls are getting married
marriage age for females to 19, aimed at developing young SRHR
under the age of 16, especially in
bringing it in line with the male advocates. Both firmly put the
Papua, some are as young as 13,”
marrying age. perspectives of young people
says Sepi Maulana Ardiansyah
most affected by HIV at the
(known as Davi), Inti Muda’s
centre. By early 2020, 100 key
national coordinator. “They are
“It is this and what not ready to have sex, be pregnant
people in Papua had been trained.
the adolescent girls or have a baby. From the cultural “The first trainings were for young
themselves speak out viewpoint their vulnerability to people, they were our focus,
about that will make rights violations is very high. It then we put other stakeholders
is really easy for young girls to together with the young people,
change. Based on the
become a victim of violence when the media as well,” explains Davi.
change in regulation they start to build a family so
(law) now they can say young.” “During the stakeholder trainings
‘we are not allowed to adolescent girls give their
perspective so others understand
marry’. It gives them the need to stop them being
a reason to say no.” married off. I am optimistic this
Davi will start to change practice
because these leaders have real
influence over other leaders and
families and this will determine
what happens. They hold the key.
Discussing anti-stigma and
discrimination day with
Miss Universe
Rising voices
Davi says one of the most protect the SRHR of adolescent Inti Muda Indonesia’s YouTube
encouraging signs in Papua girls and young women in Papua, channel #IMFormations posts weekly
is seeing young people start including young key populations. interviews with SRHR experts and also
to mobilise. In 2020, after The group is now using this pledge hosts online SRHR learning sessions
participating in Inti Muda’s training, to hold local leaders to account led by young people. The organisation
a group of young people formed on respecting the new marriage is also very active on Facebook,
the SRHR Movement in Papua and regulation. Instagram, Tiktok and Twitter.
have since been advocating for
their own rights. Beyond Papua “We are also working with influencers,
including YouTubers, Miss Universe
“We have invested a lot in them But it is not just in Papua that Indonesia and a singer from Indonesian
and I am seeing future young Inti Muda is helping to spread the Idol, to reach more young people.
leaders emerge, including young word about young people’s SRHR. They have a lot of followers, and if they
women,” says Davi. “We have seen The organisation has become speak about something their followers
them really grow in the activism particularly skilled at using social will listen. This has really helped us.”
field.” media to raise awareness.
In February 2020, Inti Muda
supported the SRHR Movement
in Papua to bring together “We have started trying out certain tactics, such
influential community leaders to as doing prize giveaways to increase engagement,”
sign a public declaration before
the eyes of the media pledging to
Davi
Fears for the future
Inti Muda has just agreed its
2021-2024 strategy, which
focuses on six areas. These
include undertaking legal
protection for vulnerable young
people by documenting and
responding to rights violations,
building equal partnerships to
increase resources, advocating
to influence policies, and further
increasing young key populations’
knowledge and awareness of
their SRHR.
Davi, who steps down as the
network’s leader in 2021, says
he hopes to see a young woman
take over. But he has serious
concerns about the difficulties
Inti Muda may face when the
PITCH programme ends at the Young advocates sharing their experiences
end of 2020. and advocating for their needs at the
Indonesian Treatment Advocacy Summit
“Young people can be shy with
older adults, they fear being judged
and can be afraid to say what they
think. That’s why we need young
people to work for young people, “For adult-led organisations there is more help, but
while working in partnership with for young people the trust from the donors is often
adult-led organisations so we can very low so it is harder to get support. PITCH has been
learn from them.” unusual in placing such trust in youth-led organisations
“A new generation is always and without it we may struggle. I hope Inti Muda is still
coming – new young people, there – we will do our best to continue – but we need
new young girls, will be born and
financial and technical support.”
raised – so we need to work hard
to ensure the changes we have Davi
created keep going.”
In May 2019, advocacy from Inti Muda explains how it has
a coalition of community worked with marginalised young
organisations, including PITCH people in the rural province of
partners, resulted in the Papua to ensure the amended
Indonesian Government increasing law is helping to change practices
the legal marriage age for women in communities where it matters
from 16 to 19, bringing it in line the most.
with men. Here, youth-led network
All photos are by Inti Muda
The Partnership to Inspire, Transform and Connect the HIV
response (PITCH) strengthens community-based organisations’
capacity to uphold the rights of populations most affected by
HIV by engaging in effective advocacy, generating robust
evidence and developing meaningful policy solutions.
PITCH is a strategic partnership between Aidsfonds,
Frontline AIDS and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
aidsfonds.org frontlineaids.org
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