BY VALERIE MSOKA
10th December 2015.
For the days of 26thand 27thNovember, 2015, Zambia’s capital city Lusaka was the center of the first-ever African Girls’ Summit to discuss ending child marriage in Africa. It was about taking stock of progress made so far, sharing experiences, identifying challenges and renewing commitment not only to ending the harmful practice but to also other practices that impact on a girl child’s life.
The Lusaka meeting was graced by representatives from more than 30 countries from Africa, Europe and the USA that included heads of state and governments, ministers in charge of children, gender and traditional affairs; first ladies, United Nations (UN) agencies, development partners, civil society organizations, young people, and religious and traditional leaders.
According to the African Union (AU) which organized the meeting in collaboration with the Zambia government, the meeting was in response to the deep concern felt by African nations that child marriage which is a violation of rights, a harmful social-cultural-traditional practice, is endemic in many parts of the continent. It has negatively impacted on women and girls’ personal development, future opportunities, education, health and wellbeing, with detrimental consequences for families, communities and nations at large.
It was also in recognition that the elimination of child marriage is a prerequisite for the realization of the aspirations of the African Union Agenda 2063 and for the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and implementation of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. The Charter requires that child marriage and the betrothal of girls and boys be prohibited, and effective action, including legislation, be taken setting the minimum age of marriage to be 18 years.
Zambia’s president Edgar Lungu who opened the summit informed delegates that his country will soon launch a national strategy to end child marriage. He added that Zambia co-led with Canada, the global advocacy that translated into the adoption of the United Nations (UN) resolution on ending forced, early and child marriage in 2014.
“However, globally, child marriage remained one of the major forms of violation of children’s rights whose perpetration has largely been influenced by people without knowledge about children’s rights. I urge AU member states to develop appropriate policy actions that would raise awareness and understanding of the problem,” said President Lungu.
The two days involved discussions such as changing the attitude towards harmful traditional practices as well as the need to have a multi-sectoral approach and improved coordination and integration at the regional, sub-regional and national level in addressing the harmful traditional practices.
Participants discussed the role of the media in promoting positive support for preventing child marriage and teenage pregnancy and as an agenda setter in any issues that require the public’s attention. In this, the media in Tanzania should be applauded for taking on the role of fighting all forms of GBV and being part of the Tanzania Media Women’s Association (TAMWA) mission of advocating, through the media, for women’s and children’s rights by conducting awareness raising activities for cultural, policy and legal changes and transformations in the society.
The involvement of men and boys alongside mothers, aunties and sisters to end the harmful practice of child marriage was also discussed. Participants stressed that to successfully fight harmful practices needs the involvement of fathers, uncles and brothers; in essence everyone. They also called for strengthening of the legal and policy frameworks including community justice systems on preventing child marriage.
After the two-day discussions the continent concluded with recommendations that all African Union (AU) member states should adopt and enforce legislation that sets the minimum age of marriage at 18 as well as the adoption and enforcement of legislation that effectively prohibits, prevents, punishes and redresses child marriage.
Presenting the recommendations to all AU member states at the closing ceremony, South Africa’s First Lady Tobeka Zuma said the member states have a duty to invest in initiatives that empower all girls, particularly the poorest and most vulnerable, to equip them with skills and information, as well as to create safe spaces and support networks necessary for a productive life.
It was also recommended that AU member states ensure that ending child marriage remains high on the political agenda at global, continental, regional and national levels through a multi-sectoral approach, including health, education, employment and legal services.
“In line with AU Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals, African member states should monitor progress towards all continental and national commitments relating to ending child marriage, harmful traditional practices, and the empowerment and participation of women and girls,” Zuma said.
The Lusaka gathering coincided with the release of a new report by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) that reveals if current trends persist, the total number of child brides in Africa will rise from 125 million to 310 million by 2050.
UNICEF’s statistical report, A Profile of Child Marriage in Africa, points to slow rates of reduction, combined with rapid population growth, as major causes for the projected increase. In all other regions of the world, current rates of reduction and demographic trends mean there will be fewer child brides each year. By 2050 Africa will surpass South Asia as the region with the highest number of women aged 20 to 24 who were married as children.
AfricanUnion chairwoman Nkosozana DlaminiZuma says, “Child marriage generates norms that have become increasingly difficult to exterminate – norms that undermine the value of our women. Through greater awareness, teamed with a collaborative approach, the crippling effects of child marriage can be eradicated.”
Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, the African Union Goodwill Ambassador for Ending Child Marriage, believes that child marriage can be ended within a generation if governments, women and youth movements work together with religious and traditional leaders.
“Getting into early marriage should not be an option out of poverty. It is important that our girls have access to education, not only primary education but are able to transition into secondary, tertiary education and get jobs or are involved in some entrepreneurship…we need to also address some of the very strong patriarchal attitudes where girls are seen as wives and not citizens. Girls are not getting married to boys, girls are getting married to adult men who are supposed to be responsible.”
The Lusaka Conference renewed and strengthened on-going efforts to end child marriage. Continentally, regionally and at national levels, the fight against Child Marriage and in countries where FGM is the rite of passage, requires visionary leadership and commitment as well as for everyone in the different spaces, with the diverse skills, experience and expertise to collectively address many of the cultural practices and behaviors that place girls at increased risks of FGM and Child Marriage. The African proverb that comes to mind for this unified fight is one that says, “If you want to go Fast go Alone, if you want to go Far go together.” Translate going far as the Total eradication of FGM and Child Marriage in Tanzania and Africa. Ideally, NOW.
By Valerie N. Msoka, 2015Champion against Child Early and Forced Marriage awarded by the Canadian High
Commission in Tanzania
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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