STRATEGI DINAS SOSIAL PEMBERDAYAAN PEREMPUAN DAN PERLINDUNGAN ANAK DALAM UPAYA MENCEGAH PERKAWINAN ANAK DI KABUPATEN TRENGGALEK

This study aims to analyze the strategy of the Office of Social Affairs, Women’s Empowerment, and Child Protection (Dinsos PPPA) in preventing child marriage, as well as to identify the supporting and inhibiting factors in the implementation of the strategy in Trenggalek Regency. This research employed a qualitative descriptive approach using in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation techniques. The research subjects and informants included officials of Dinsos PPPA, community leaders, and children. Data analysis was conducted using Fred R. David’s strategic management concept, which consists of strategy formulation, implementation, and evaluation. The results indicate that the child marriage prevention strategy implemented by Dinsos PPPA was formulated through several regional policies. Furthermore, the strategy was implemented through socialization, education, premarital counseling, and the “Child Marriage-Free Village” program. However, the evaluation stage of the strategy still tends to focus on administrative achievements, such as the number of marriage dispensations, the number of activities conducted, and program reporting. The supporting factors in the implementation of the strategy include the commitment of Dinsos PPPA, regional policy support, and cross-sectoral collaboration. Meanwhile, the implementation also faces several obstacles, including institutional limitations such as limited human resources and budget. In addition, external barriers were identified, including socio-cultural norms, economic pressure on families, limited access to certain areas, and unregistered marriages. This study concludes that the child marriage prevention strategy implemented by Dinsos PPPA has been structurally established; however, it has not yet fully succeeded in encouraging changes in community behavior, thus requiring a sustainable socio-cultural approach.