Sisters in Islam (SIS) welcomes Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said’s statement on the banning of child marriage during her response to a question on whether the Perikatan Nasional government would be successful in banning child marriage and if Umno would support the move.
It is refreshing to see a politician from the current government supporting the efforts to ban child marriage. The issue of child marriage has been long debated, and it is a concern if this is not addressed concretely in the short and long term.
In January 2020, the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development launched a five-year national strategy plan to address the root causes of child marriage involving 16 strategies and 58 programmes that will be executed by 61 agencies.
In addition, just a week before the launch the then-attorney general disclosed that the government is studying a proposal to raise the minimum marriage age for Muslims from 16 to 18. SIS hopes that the Perikatan Nasional government can move swiftly towards legislative reforms necessary to make marriages under 18 illegal.
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Child marriage is a harmful cultural practice to children for many reasons.
Firstly, the child (who is often a girl child) is deprived of her childhood. She is often denied an education as they are often removed from school hence, perpetuating her experience of discrimination.
Particularly, if they are married off to older men, they are incapable of voicing their concerns, especially when it comes to sexual expectations. This results in early pregnancies which can cause a higher risk of maternal and infant mortality.
Other long-term health complications may arise as a result of pregnancy and childbirth at an early age, prior to the girl child’s body being fully mature.
Children who are married young experience a higher degree of domestic abuse and violence.
We urge the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development to continue its implementation of the national strategy plan towards ending child marriage in Malaysia and for legal marriage to be amended to the age of 18 without exception. Delays to this amendment will cause more harm to girls and undermine their potential to a better future.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
Should Child marriages especially to much older men not be similar to an act of pediophile and where those who directly approve it for money benefits, be similar to selling the child brides [where many may be divorced after short periods] and thus living on on the proceeds of the sale not be referred to as involved in prostituion and religion being used to justify it?
Are Authorities which support child marriages directly or indirectly, not equally be perceived to be a party to the custom and thus be perceived to be abetting and guilty?
IS LACK OF ACTION TO STOP CHILD MARRIAGES NOT BE PERCEIVED TO INDICATE THAT THE LEADERSHIPS IN MANY COUNTRIES AS BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE AND CONTROL OF RELEVENT RELIGIOUS LEADERS?
Be Safe Bless all