Yogyakarta | pta-yogyakarta.go.id (24/11) - The concern about the phenomenon of polygamy and early marriages mushroomed at the moment, encouraged Center for Women's Studies (PSW) State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga held national seminar on "Compiling 'Best Practices' for Family Rights in PA, KUA, and BP4".

The seminar , held in cooperation with the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Indonesia, the Directorate General of Religious Courts of the Supreme Court of Indonesia, and the Asia Foundation conducted from 23 to 25 November 2009 at the hotel Shapir, Yogyakarta. Attended by participants from 10 provinces who come from institutions KUA, BP4, NGOs, and judges of religious courts and PTA. Seminar speakers presented from various backgrounds who did have long experience in dealing with family issues, among others, from PSW UIN Sunan Kalijaga itself, National Commission for Women, NGOs : Rifka Annisa, Putri Kande (from Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam), the Directorate of Religious Courts Body, KUA and BP4.

On the first day, Monday, 23 November 2009, seminar has been opened by the Director of PSW UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Dra. Susilaningsih, MA., Rector of UIN Sunan Kalijaga, Prof. Dr. H. M. Amin Abdullah, Chairman of the BP4 Center, Drs. H.M. Taufik, SH., And the Director General Badilag MA, Drs. Wahyu Widiana, MA.

On the second day, at the first session, the Chairman PTA Yogyakarta, with the Chairman of PTA Banten, Drs. Sofyan Saleh, SH, MH., became speakers of the agenda on Urgency of Integration of The Rights in the family.

Coming  from the sense of the word "family" in Arabic, namely "al usrah", which means "nearest class", or "shield that protects", Chairman PTA Yogyakarta, Drs. M. Hasan H. Muhammad, SH, MH. outlined the rights and obligations of husband and wife in marriage, including parenting and educating children, in order to build a household sakinah (calm), mawaddah (peaceful) and Rohmah (merciful) . Citing Article 79 chapter 2 of Compilation of Islamic Law, Hasan Muhammad reminded that in domesticity, husband and wife were equal, so the household problems must be discussed and decided jointly.

Associating with the previous issue about polygamy discussed  by KPTA Banten, Drs. Sofyan Saleh SH, MH., Hasan Muhammad agreed that polygamy which once has been considered as the right of husband, it now should be a family problem to be solved jointly between husband and wife. In polygamous families, was feared that the function as a "protective shield", especially for children as the fruits of marriage, would fall apart.

More information about the protection of women and children were discussed at the next session, among others by Nur Lailah Ahmad, SH., a woman activist who is also a judge of PA Bantul, highlighting the issue of marriage under the age based on the principles of litigation and restrictions. Lily Ahmad expected judges to always listen to the voice of children more and not only be "law oriented", glued to the existing regulations, but to look also at the other aspects of the cases examined.

"Judge should not only be a mouthpiece of law (la bouche de la Loi), but also be the law makers to create the better life of community," Said Lailah closing her account towards coffee break of the event. (Jauhari)