The Role of Legal Aid Institutions in Protecting Women's Rights in Divorce Cases in Cirebon City

The increasing divorce rate in Cirebon City has given rise to legal issues that directly impact the fulfillment of women's rights, particularly those related to the right to maintenance, child custody, joint property, and access to justice. Women from disadvantaged communities face greater vulnerability due to economic constraints, low legal literacy, and limited access to legal aid services. The presence of Legal Aid Institutions is an important instrument in ensuring the fulfillment of every citizen's constitutional right to receive fair and equal legal assistance. This study aims to analyze the role of Legal Aid Institutions in protecting women's rights in divorce cases in Cirebon City, identify obstacles to the implementation of legal aid, and formulate a model for strengthening legal protection that is more responsive to women's needs. The study used an empirical legal method with a socio-legal approach. Primary data were obtained through interviews with advocates, paralegals, and women receiving legal aid. Secondary data were obtained from laws and regulations, court decisions, and various scientific literature. Data analysis was conducted qualitatively through the stages of data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions. The research findings indicate that Legal Aid Institutions (LPAs) play a strategic role as facilitators of access to justice through legal consultations, litigation and non-litigation assistance, legal education, and advocacy to ensure the fulfillment of women's rights during the court process and after divorce. The effectiveness of this role is still influenced by limited resources, low public legal awareness, and suboptimal collaboration between institutions. Institutional strengthening, expansion of legal aid services, and the development of collaborative mechanisms between LPAs, Religious Courts, local governments, and civil society organizations are strategic steps in realizing equitable legal protection for women in divorce cases in Cirebon City.