Building up social resistance against early marriage
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
WORLD Vision, an international NGO, recently released a report that revealed that Bangladesh has the highest number of child brides. Early marriage brings an abrupt end to the girls' education thereby endangering their health.
World Vision said more than half of all girls are forced to marry before they turn 16. This rate is higher than even that of some poor African countries. This is nothing, but a reflection of underdevelopment and maltreatments to the girls. Girls are deprived of education because due to marriage, they have little choice but to face serious health problems attributable to their early reproductive activities.
The social cost of this is staggering. It endangers maternal and child health, obstructs the aims of family planning and vastly undermines human development. This is a direct blow to women's empowerment.
There are many reasons, but the major cause of a girl's early marriage is that the fundamentalists have greater influence in rural society. The prevailing sense of insecurity is perhaps prompting parents to marry off their daughters as early as possible.
One way to stop is to make the 'Quazis' or marriage registrars accountable. They can play a major role if they act responsibly. They should not agree to complete the wedding process if the bride or groom is not at the required age. Besides, the societal awareness must be built up against early marriage of girls because it is a social crime.
Ahmed Reza
Dhanmandi R/A
Dhaka
World Vision said more than half of all girls are forced to marry before they turn 16. This rate is higher than even that of some poor African countries. This is nothing, but a reflection of underdevelopment and maltreatments to the girls. Girls are deprived of education because due to marriage, they have little choice but to face serious health problems attributable to their early reproductive activities.
The social cost of this is staggering. It endangers maternal and child health, obstructs the aims of family planning and vastly undermines human development. This is a direct blow to women's empowerment.
There are many reasons, but the major cause of a girl's early marriage is that the fundamentalists have greater influence in rural society. The prevailing sense of insecurity is perhaps prompting parents to marry off their daughters as early as possible.
One way to stop is to make the 'Quazis' or marriage registrars accountable. They can play a major role if they act responsibly. They should not agree to complete the wedding process if the bride or groom is not at the required age. Besides, the societal awareness must be built up against early marriage of girls because it is a social crime.
Ahmed Reza
Dhanmandi R/A
Dhaka