Title: Minister Nasaruddin Umar Urges Marriage Officiants to Reduce Divorce Rate in Indonesia
Jakarta – In a bid to combat the rising divorce rate among Indonesian couples, Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar has called upon marriage officiants working at religious affairs offices (KUA) to play a more proactive role in guiding citizens towards building strong and resilient families.
During a recent communication and counseling training session for marriage officiants, Minister Umar emphasized the importance of going beyond mere registration duties and actively educating people on the significance of marriage. He stressed the need for marriage officiants to possess effective public communication skills to effectively convey this message.
According to data released by Statistics Indonesia (BPS) in February 2024, the number of divorces in Indonesia decreased from 516,344 in 2022 to 463,654 in 2023. Minister Umar noted that a significant portion of divorce cases—60%—involved couples whose marriages had not yet reached the five-year mark, with women and children being the most affected parties in such situations.
Minister’s Call to Action
Minister Umar underscored the crucial role that marriage officiants and counselors play in providing educational and counseling services to their respective communities. He stressed the importance of addressing the needs of vulnerable groups, particularly women and children, who are disproportionately impacted by divorce.
Embracing Technological Advancements
Acknowledging the evolving landscape of communication, Minister Umar highlighted the necessity of leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance outreach efforts and adapt to changing societal norms. He expressed hope that the newly acquired communication skills by marriage officiants would contribute significantly to reducing the divorce rate in the country.
The State of Marriage Officiants in Indonesia
In a statement, the Religious Affairs Ministry’s director of KUA and family development, Cecep Khairul Anwar, revealed that Indonesia currently has 9,333 marriage officiants, with 8,661 registered as civil servants and the remainder serving as contract-based government employees.
As the country continues its efforts to promote family harmony and gender equality, the role of marriage officiants in fostering stable and lasting marriages has become increasingly critical. Minister Umar’s call to action serves as a poignant reminder of the pivotal role these officiants play in shaping the future of Indonesian families.
By equipping marriage officiants with the necessary skills and resources to support couples in distress, the hope is that Indonesia will witness a decline in divorce rates and a rise in resilient, thriving families across the nation.
