CHILDREN'S NATURAL RIGHTS IN THE LAW ON MOTHER AND CHILD WELFARE ACCORDING TO MONTESQUIEU

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52326/jss.utm.2026.9(1).12

Keywords:

children, natural rights, mothers and fathers

Abstract

This study focuses on Article 12 paragraph (1) letter g of Law No. 4-2024, Indonesia. This article states that "every mother and father has the obligation to instill religious values, faith in God Almighty, and good character in their children." The essence of the obligation of every mother and father, while a natural obligation, is not part of the state's obligation to regulate because it would violate the natural rights of children. This study uses normative research but in its elaboration it still relies on the belief in what is right. Normative research asks questions that are relevant to the development and implementation of legislation. The natural rights in Article 12 paragraph (1) letter g are not in accordance with the teachings of Montesquieu because the state has made them a norm and they are not in line with the origins of their formation. The state was formed because society was unable to fulfill its natural desires due to a lack of facilities. Even if there were no facilities, mothers and fathers would refer to Article 12 paragraph (1) letter g of Law No. 4-2024 and would try to instill religious values, faith in God, and good character in their children.  

References

Hazarika, R. (2024) ‘Right To Property and Maintenance of Illegitimate Child Under Hindu Law’, International Journal of Membrane Science and Technology, 10(5), pp. 684–689. https://doi.org/10.15379/ijmst.v10i5.3439.

Directorate of Social Welfare Statistics (2023) Indonesian Child Welfare: Analysis of Multidimensional Child Rights Deprivation 2022. Jakarta.

An-Na’im, A.A. (2016) ‘The Spirit of Laws is Not Universal: Alternatives to the Enforcement Paradigm for Human Rights’. Brill Nijhoff. https://doi.org/10.1163/22112596-02102008.

Wibisono, J.A. (2023) ‘Legal Protection for Children Taken by Their Mothers as Convicts in Correctional Institutions’, Strata Law Review, 1(2), pp. 89–90. https://doi.org/10.59631/slr.v1i2.44.

Anderson, E., Kornrich, S. and Abdelhadi, E. (2023) ‘Carrots over Sticks? Mothers’ Pensions and Child Labor in the Early 20th Century U.S.’, Social Science History, 5(11), p. 242. https://doi.org/10.1017/ssh.2022.33.

Wati, R.K., Kusbandiah, A. and Amarini, I. (2025) ‘Moral Considerations of Students in Taking Online Loans: Between Needs and Desires’, Journal of Social Morality, 10(2), pp. 504–516. https://doi.org/10.21067/JMK.V10I1.11857.

Lohse, S., Wasmer, M.S. and Reydon, T.A.C. (2020) ‘Integrating philosophy of science into research on ethical, legal and social issues in the life sciences’, Perspectives on Science, 28(6). https://doi.org/10.1162/posc_a_00357.

Qamar, N. (2021) ‘Theory Position in the Structure of Legal Science’, SIGn Jurnal Hukum, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.37276/sjh.v3i1.126.

Bintang, S. (2024) ‘The applicability of domestic law in international business contracts: A study on Indonesian courts’ cases’, Kanun Jurnal Ilmu Hukum, 26(2), p. 451. https://doi.org/10.24815/KANUN.V26I2.38080.

Wijaya, D.N. (2016) ‘Montesquieu and the meaning of justice’, Scientific Journal of Pancasila and Citizenship Education, 1(2), pp. 79–84. https://doi.org/10.17977/um019v1i22016p079.

Olsson, O. and Hansson, G. (2011) ‘Country size and the rule of law: Resuscitating Montesquieu’, European Economic Review, 55(5), pp. 613–629. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2010.09.008.

Merriam-Webster (2025) ‘Year’. Available at: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/year (Accessed: 1 April 2025).

Ridho, M.Z. (2019) ‘From Chalipate to Modern State: A Reflection of Ibn Khaldun’s Thought’, Ulumuna, 23(1), p. 59. https://doi.org/10.20414/UJIS.V23I1.345.

Tahir, Z. and Nori, A.W.J. (2023) ‘Temporal and geographical forces in shaping Ibn Khaldun’s theory: Relevance and application in modern societal dynamics’, Al-Shajarah, 28(2), pp. 320–321. https://doi.org/10.31436/shajarah.v28i2.1648.

Corcoran, L. and Cook, K. (2023) ‘The philosophy of Hans-Georg Gadamer: An exemplar of the complicated relationship between philosophy and nursing practice’, Nursing Inquiry, 30(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/nin.12509.

Oh, J.-Y. and Son, Y.-A. (2024) ‘Aristotle’s Static World and Traditional Education – A Secondary Publication’, Scientific and Social Research, 6(1), pp. 211–223. https://doi.org/10.26689/ssr.v6i1.6110.

González García, A. (2021) ‘Natural law and human rights’, Advocatus, (29), pp. 147–156. https://doi.org/10.18041/0124-0102/advocatus.29.1710.

Da Silva, M. (2024) ‘From moral rights to legal rights? Lessons from healthcare contexts’, Developing World Bioethics, 24(1), pp. 21–30. https://doi.org/10.1111/dewb.12444.

Tollefsen, C. (2021) ‘God, new natural law theory, and human rights’, Religions, 12(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12080613.

Cerman, I. (2020) ‘On rights without natural law’, Opera Historica, 21(1), pp. 90–107. https://doi.org/10.32725/oph.2020.007.

Werner-Bierwisch, T. et al. (2018) ‘Mothers’ and fathers’ sense of security in the context of pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period: An integrative literature review’. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-018-2096-3.

Moschella, M. (2023) ‘Natural law, parental rights, and the defense of “liberal” limits on government: An analysis of the Mortara case and its contemporary parallels’, Notre Dame Law Review, 98(4), pp. 1559–1594.

Tollefsen, C. (2013) ‘Pure Perfectionism and the Limits of Paternalism’, in Reason, Morality, and Law. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199675500.003.0014.

Downloads

Published

2026-04-05

How to Cite

Michael, T. (2026). CHILDREN’S NATURAL RIGHTS IN THE LAW ON MOTHER AND CHILD WELFARE ACCORDING TO MONTESQUIEU. JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, 9(1), 197–205. https://doi.org/10.52326/jss.utm.2026.9(1).12

Issue

Section

Articles

Categories