This research was carried out for approximately 2 months, focusing on the effectiveness of Law Number 16 of 2019 to reduce the number of early marriages in the area of the Religious Affairs Office (KUA) of Selo District, Boyolali Regency. The data collection process involves a series of methods, including direct observation, document analysis, and in-depth interviews with various related parties. The research subjects cover various important elements in the structure of the Selo District KUA, including the Head of KUA, extension workers, and administrative staff. This multi-method approach allows researchers to gain a comprehensive understanding of the implementation of the law and its impact on the phenomenon of early marriage in the region. The data collection process is carried out through several strategic stages:

The research period, which began from early June 2024 to July 2024, allowed researchers to observe the dynamics of the implementation of the law over a full seasonal cycle, providing a more representative picture of its effectiveness [35]- [37].

The Selo District Religious Affairs Office is an extension of the Ministry of Religion at the sub-district level, which is directly responsible to the Head of the Office of the Ministry of Religion of Boyolali Regency. The strategic location of KUA in Jarakan Hamlet, Samiran Village, Selo District, allows it to serve the community effectively in 10 villages within its operational area. The physical structure of the Selo District KUA, which was built in 2008 on an area of 199 m², reflects the government's commitment to providing adequate services to the community. The building, which consists of 6 functional rooms, is not only an administrative centre but also a symbol of the state's presence in religious affairs at the grassroots level [38]- [40].

From a geographical perspective, Selo District has unique characteristics that affect the social and economic dynamics of its community. Located on the slopes of Mount Merapi and Merbabu, this region is not only rich in agricultural potential, especially vegetables, and tobacco, but also faces topographic challenges that affect people's access to public services, including KUA. The organizational structure of KUA Selo District, led by Agung Arif Yuni Hasan, S. HI, MH, reflects efforts to meet the needs of the community comprehensively. The clear division of duties between the head of KUA, administrative staff, and data processing staff shows a systematic approach to managing various aspects of services, ranging from marriage administration to family coaching [41]–[43].

The vision of KUA Selo District, which focuses on the realization of a happy and prosperous Muslim family, both materially and spiritually, shows that this institution not only functions as an administrative unit but also as an agent of social change. The mission described, ranging from improving marriage registration and referral services to empowering mosque functions, zakat, and waqf, reflects a holistic approach to building a society rooted in religious values. The implementation of the KUA Information System (SIKUA) is a progressive step that shows the adaptation of the Selo District KUA to the demands of the digital era. This system not only improves administrative efficiency but also allows for better data integration with systems at the wider regional level [44]- [46].

The work program of KUA Selo District, which covers various aspects, from headship to the development of sakinah families and the management of zakat and waqf, shows a comprehensive approach to serving the community. The collaboration with various parties, such as the Kesos/KB Kesub-district UPT and LP2A, reflects the awareness of the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach in addressing socio-religious issues in the community. In the context of research on the effectiveness of Law Number 16 of 2019 in reducing the number of early marriages, the setting of the Selo District KUA provides a rich background to understand how national policies are implemented and have an impact at the local level. Geographical challenges, socio-economic dynamics, and the institutional capacity of KUA are important factors that affect the effectiveness of the implementation of the law [47]- [49] .

This study examines the effectiveness of Law Number 16 of 2019 to reduce the number of early marriages in the area of the Religious Affairs Office (KUA) of Selo District, Boyolali Regency. The analysis of the results of this study will focus on two main aspects: the factors that cause early marriage and the effectiveness of the implementation of the law [50], [51] .

Early marriage in Selo District is still a significant phenomenon, despite preventive efforts. Data from KUA Selo shows fluctuations in the number of early marriages from year to year, with a peak in 2020 of 55 cases.

Based on research, the factors that cause early marriage in Selo District can be categorized as follows:

a. Lack of Religious and Cultural Understanding: Ma'mur Jamal and Umdatul Baroroh highlight the lack of religious and cultural understanding of the community that is not oriented towards the interests of children as a significant factor [52]. The tradition of not rejecting the first proposal is still strong in the Selo community, which can encourage early marriage.

b. Economic Factors: According to Alfiyah's findings in [53], economically disadvantaged families tend to marry their daughters to ease the economic burden. This shows that economic conditions are still a major consideration in early marriage decisions [54]–[56].

c. Low Education Level: The low level of education and knowledge of parents and children is a significant factor in the decision to marry early. This phenomenon indicates the importance of improving access and quality of education in the region.

d. Parents' Concerns: The results of the interview, that parents' concerns about the behavior of their children who have been dating for a long time are the reason to marry their children sooner. This shows that there is a gap in communication and understanding between parents and children regarding premarital relationships.

e. Pregnancy Outside of Marriage: Some cases of early marriage occur because the bride-to-be is pregnant before marriage, as documented in the dispensation application letter number 0266:2021 [57]. This indicates the need for more comprehensive sexual and reproductive education for adolescents [58], [59] . 2

The implementation of Law No. 16 of 2019 in the Selo District shows mixed results. Although this law has set the minimum age of marriage to 19 years for both brides, there are still cases of early marriage that occur through the marriage dispensation process.

a. Prevention Efforts: KUA Selo District has made various proactive efforts to socialize the negative impact of early marriage. The Head of KUA, Mr. Agung Arif Yuni Hasan, S.HI, MH, stated that they actively delivered material about early marriage and its negative effects during pre-marriage examinations and through religious extension workers in various religious activities in the community [60]. This effort shows that there is an institutional awareness of the importance of preventing early marriage [61]–[63].

b. Cross-Sectoral Cooperation: KUA Selo also collaborates with schools, health centres, BKKBN, and PLKB to provide marriage guidance and early marriage prevention materials. This multisectoral approach reflects a comprehensive effort to address the issue of early marriage.

c. Marriage Dispensation Process: Despite preventive efforts, there are still significant marriage dispensation applications. Data shows that in 2022, there were 170 dispensation applications, although it decreased to 98 applications in 2023.

This data shows that despite the decrease in the number of dispensation applications from 2022 to 2023, the figure is still quite high. This indicates that the implementation of Law No. 16 of 2019 still faces significant challenges in the field.

d. This data shows that despite the decrease in the number of dispensation applications from 2022 to 2023, the figure is still quite high. This indicates that the implementation of Law No. 16 of 2019 still faces significant challenges in the field . d. Judge's Considerations in Granting Dispensation: An analysis of the marriage dispensation decision shows that the judge considers various factors such as the physical and mental readiness of the bride-to-be, economic conditions, and special reasons such as pregnancy out of wedlock [64]. For example, in the case of a dispensation application by Mr. Suhar, the judge rejected the application with the consideration that the prospective bride who was less than 19 years old was considered not ready in terms of psychology and reproductive organs [65]- [67].

e. Implementation Challenges: The Head of KUA emphasized that the effectiveness of this law is highly dependent on the support of various elements of society and the government. He stated, "Of course, this law will not run alone, but the Ministry of Religion or KUA and all elements of society and the government together realize that this age limit becomes the initial limit when a person is ready to get married." This statement emphasizes the need for a holistic approach involving various stakeholders in addressing the issue of early marriage [68]-[70] .

Although Law No. 16 of 2019 has provided a clear legal basis to prevent early marriage, its implementation in the Selo District still faces significant challenges. Socio-cultural, economic, and educational factors still play an important role in the occurrence of early marriage. A more comprehensive and collaborative approach between the government, educational institutions, and the community is needed to increase the effectiveness of this law in reducing the rate of early marriage in the region. Furthermore, an ongoing evaluation of the implementation of this law is needed to identify areas that need improvement and strengthening [71]- [73].

Law Number 16 of 2019 concerning the minimum age limit for marriage is the government's effort to protect the rights of children, especially women, in terms of education, growth and development, and other aspects of life. Based on data obtained from the KUA of Selo District, it is recorded that more than 900 couples have registered their marriages from 2018 to June 2024. Here is a breakdown of the number of marriages recorded:

Although the number of marriages recorded is quite high, cases of early marriage are still found in the KUA of Selo District. Before the enactment of Law No. 16 of 2019, the minimum age limit for marriage referred to Law No. 1 of 1974, which was 19 years for men and 16 years for women. However, since the enactment of Law No. 16 of 2019, the minimum age limit for marriage has been 19 years for both men and women. The results of the data analysis show that from 2018 to 2023, there were 93 cases of early marriage in the KUA of Selo District. In 2018, there were 4 cases of early marriage. After the enactment of Law No. 16 of 2019, the number of cases of early marriage increased to 11 cases in 2019 and reached a peak in 2020 with 55 cases.

According to Mr Suroto, Data Processing Staff of KUA Selo District, the increase in the number of early marriages in 2020 was due to adjustments to the new regulations on the age limit for marriage (Interview, June 10, 2023). After socialization and prevention efforts, the number of early marriages decreased significantly to 3 cases in 2021 but increased again to 5 cases in 2022 and 11 cases in 2023. The effectiveness of Law No. 16 of 2019 in reducing the number of early marriages in Selo District can be analyzed using the theory of legal effectiveness of Soerjono Soekanto (2014) [74]. According to Soekanto, five factors affect the effectiveness of the law: laws, law enforcement, facilities and facilities, society, and culture [75]. In the context of this study, the three main factors that affect the effectiveness of Law No. 16 of 2019 in Selo District are:

The enactment of Law No. 16 of 2019 directly affects the marriage registration process at the KUA of Selo District. Couples who are not yet 19 years old will be denied marriage registration. According to the Head of KUA, Mr. Agung Arif Yuni Hasan, S.HI, MH, this law is effective in encouraging people to prepare their children more mature before marriage (Interview, June 10, 2023) [76].

KUA Selo District collaborates with various parties such as the Health Office, Health Center, District, and BKKBN in implementing marriage guidance and socialization programs for adolescents. These efforts have shown positive results, with the number of dispensation applications decreasing from 170 cases in 2022 to 98 cases in 2023.

The low level of parental education and lack of access to information are obstacles to the implementation of this law. In addition, cultural factors such as the habit of marrying children who have established close relationships also affect the high rate of early marriage in Selo District. The implementation of Law No. 16 of 2019 in the Selo District shows that there are challenges and opportunities. Despite fluctuations in the number of early marriages, collaborative efforts between KUA and related agencies have shown positive results in reducing the number of early marriages. However, socio-cultural and educational factors are still obstacles that need to be overcome to increase the effectiveness of the law.

In carrying out this study, the researcher faces several limitations that need to be considered in the interpretation of the results:

These limitations may affect the depth of analysis and the completeness of the data obtained. However, researchers have made every effort to overcome these limitations and present comprehensive and accurate research results.