As part of the five-year YES I DO Child Marriage Alliance program in West Lombok, Rutgers Indonesia implemented the Share-Net International Rapid Improvement Model (SHIRIM) on Knowledge Translation from 2017-2019. This guideline is part of Share-Net Netherlands’s Knowledge Collaborative on addressing Child Marriage in Indonesia. This guideline on the local Merarik cultural practice was developed by Rutgers Indonesia in collaboration with IPPF West Nusa Tenggara and other members of existing multi-stakeholder district working group. Through advocacy efforts, this guideline was included as an attachment in the Local Regulation of Child Marriage Prevention that had just been issued by the parliament.
I. The Philosophy of Merarik
In Sasak custom, each phase in the Merarik tradition aims to protect, respect and uphold women’s rights. Women have the full authority to determine when to and whom they want to marry.
In principle, Merarik in the Sasak customary law has provisions, including: “The customary law shall not conflict with higher laws including religious and state regulations, and both parties are not in any disagreement. If the man or the woman does not want to get married, then the customary law protects them” (Raden M. Rais- Sasak Customary Council Paer Bat; 2018).
II. Merarik Procedure
3 different methods in the Merarik tradition: Melakoq/Proposal; Selarian/Memaling/Memulang/Melaiang; and Serah Hukum. Each method consists unique phases. Selarian/Memaling/Memulang/Melaiang is better known as bride kidnapping and therefore consists more phases than other Merarik methods.
1. Melakoq/Proposal
Man and woman who already bond, like each other (berayean) and plan to get married, should inform their families. The announcement happens after a few phases until both families meet to make a joint decision.
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Title: Norms of Merarkik by the Sasak Customary Law
Publication date: 2021