Constitutional Protection of Children Born Out of Wedlock: Analysis of Constitutional Court Decision No. 46/PUU-VIII/2010

Habibul Umam Taqiuddin; Yuda Martadinata

doi:10.70742/hrj.v2i1.1047

Authors

Habibul Umam Taqiuddin Fakultas Hukum, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Nusa Tenggara Barat
Yuda Martadinata Fakultas Hukum, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Nusa Tenggara Barat

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70742/hrj.v2i1.1047

Keywords:

Constitutional Protection, Children Born Out of Wedlock, Constitutional Court, Constitutional Court Decision, Children’s Rights

Abstract

The legal status of children born out of wedlock in Indonesia has been associated with limitations on civil relations with their biological fathers, raising concerns regarding equality, non-discrimination, and protection of children’s rights. Studies have examined Constitutional Court Decision No. 46/PUU-VIII/2010 as recognition of civil relations between children born out of wedlock and their biological fathers, while the constitutional construction and boundaries of such protection remain insufficiently examined. This study aims to analyze the constitutional construction of protection for children born out of wedlock, the legal implications of Constitutional Court Decision No. 46/PUU-VIII/2010 for Article 43(1) of the Marriage Law, and implications for equality before the law and non-discrimination. This normative study uses statutory, conceptual, and case analysis. Findings demonstrate that constitutional protection is constructed through recognition of children’s rights, equality before the law, and prohibition of discrimination based on birth status. The Constitutional Court’s decision altered the meaning of Article 43(1) by recognizing a civil relationship between a child born out of wedlock and a biological father whose blood relationship can be established through scientific evidence and other recognized means. Such recognition does not place children born out of wedlock in an identical legal position to children born within marriage in family law, but establishes a legal basis for civil rights and legal consequences arising from biological lineage. This study contributes a precise constitutional legal framework distinguishing protection of children’s rights from the legal consequences of parental marital status, thereby strengthening substantive equality and non-discrimination in Indonesian family law

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