WiLDAF holds photo exhibition on early marriages
The Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) has held a photo exhibition in Accra to educate parents on the need to discourage early marriages.
Advertisement
Held in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Canadian High Commission, the exhibition, that depicted ‘too early to wed situations,’ was meant to sensitise communities, the youth, parents and Muslims especially Imams, to fight against early and forced marriages among girls who were below 18 years.
Safe environment for children
The Communications and Advocacy Officer of WiLDAF, Ms Abigail Edem Hunu, told the participants the event was important as it would ensure that parents created a safe environment for their children to enjoy their rights in the society while fighting against gender-based violence.
She said the high rate at which girls were being given out in marriage before the legal age of 18 was a major concern since it had serious implications on the growth and development of children.
She urged parents who allowed their children, especially girls, to engage in the act to be cautious as the law would take its full course in punishing them.
Ms Hunu said it was a huge responsibility for a girl to become a wife and a mother when she was not prepared for such roles, and added that it also led to series of complications for the victims during childbirth.
She said the practice took place because of religious beliefs, betrothal, traditional practices and poverty but added that that should not be the reason why children should be forced into early marriages as it was against the laws of the land.
Appeal to parents
She appealed to parents to ensure that the incidence of early marriage was dealt with to reverse the illiteracy rate in the country.
Other Trending Stories
Sheikh M. Awal Laary, a Muslim cleric and a participant who spoke to the GNA, said early and forced marriages in Islam were null and void since marriages had to be conducted with the consent of both male and female who had reached the mature age.
He said parents must be careful since giving their daughters to men who impregnated them to marry them was dangerous.
Sheikh Awal Laary stated that parents had a responsibility and should be on their feet to ensure that such acts were minimised or abolished totally in the community and in the country at large.
WiLDAF is a pan-African, non-governmental organisation that brings together individuals and organisations to promote the exercise and respect for women’s rights in Africa through a variety of tools, including law.
Credit: GNA