Home Civil Society Voices Child marriages: High price to pay for lack of political will

Child marriages: High price to pay for lack of political will

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Sisters in Islam (SIS) is concerned that the normalisation of child marriages dangerously affects the future for girls in our country.

The fact that child marriages continue to happen in Malaysia underscores the reality of the devastating price that girls have to pay for our government’s lack of political will over this issue.

Highlighting two recent cases in Tumpat, Kelantan, both involving 15-year-old girls who married men far older than them, Sisters in Islam (SIS) is concerned that the normalisation of child marriages dangerously affects the future for girls in our country.

Taking into consideration that one of the girls had even run away from home, demonstrates the unfair power dynamics of child marriages, which unfortunately puts girls on the losing end.

The ongoing trend of child marriages clearly shows that current standard operating procedures severely lack the safeguards required to act in the child’s best interest and to protect their welfare.

As both girls are school dropouts, the system has also failed to prioritise the children’s education and to empower their families with economic means to keep their children in school.

It is indeed disturbing to realise that even in the era of Malaysia baharu, families are driven to economic desperation to the point they would marry their children off so that they can “have a better life”. Even more worrying, we have not matured as a society to be able to tell them that keeping children in school is a more sustainable means of breaking the poverty cycle.

The government must not hide behind the excuse that they are “powerless” to take immediate action to resolve this important issue. Every hour they continue to choose to do so, more girls fall between the cracks they have refused to repair.

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
  1. Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
  2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
  3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
  4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
  5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
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John K John
30 Oct 2018 7.13am

Fully agreed! Educate not abdicate!

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