Child rights activists on Saturday urged the government as well as other stakeholders for comprehensive planning and proper investment to prevent early marriage.
The activists also focused on promoting the multi-sectoral strategies that include a focus on adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health.
The child rights activists raised the demand at an international sharing meeting titled “Child marriage: the Way forward’ organised by Care Bangladesh in the city.
State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroze Chumki was present as chief guest while Care Bangladesh Assistant Country Director Arshad Muhammad and child rights activists from Bangladesh, India and Nepal were present.
They discussed on the findings of the research “Tipping Point Community Analyses (CPA) Study” on impact of child marriage in Bangladesh.
Care International conducted the study in different villages in Bangladesh and Nepal to find out the root cause of child marriage.
The research found that the complex marriage process systematically excludes the voice of girls. When adolescents, especially girls, try to assert their choices, they are often stigmatized by their families and communities and seen as standing against the authority of fathers and brothers.
As per the research, in Bangladesh the practice of child marriage crosses
religious and socio-economic boundaries. The haor (wetland) areas in
Sunamganj are particularly economically marginalized and isolated. The
isolation and lack of opportunities for specific communities makes it more
difficult for them to move away from practices such as child marriage.
The analysis captured the reality that social identities, values and
practices often align with economic, geographic and infrastructural
constraints.
Dowry, above all, is a practice that encourages child marriage amongst the
poor and ultra poor. The deeply engrained worldview that girls are of lesser
value than boys is only too apparent at the root of the beliefs and social
pressures driving parents’ decisions.
Meher Afroz Chumki said that the government has approved the child marriage
act to reduce the ratio.
“Besides formulating and enforcing laws, it is important to organise social
movement to prevent child marriage. Government, media, development
organisations and every conscious citizen should come forward to join the
activism,” she added.
Arshad Mohammad said, “Empowering adolescent girls is not only important to
change the lives of them but also empowering the girls is imperative to give
the world a new, positive future.”
