The National Assembly has passed the long-awaited marriage age bill amidst a concern from male parliamentarians that they have been denied an opportunity to have an input on the issue.
Child marriage is an appalling violation of human rights and robs girls of their education, health and long-term prospects,’ comments Babatunde Osotimehin, executive director of UNFPA.
‘A girl who is married as a child is one whose potential will not be fulfilled.’
A survey by Human Rights Watch, published a few years ago, links the high prevalence of child marriages in Malawi to poverty, teenage pregnancy and lack of adequate education. It states: “These factors are all interlinked and heightened by a lack of strong judicial and government policy framework to ensure that existing laws designed to prevent and address child marriage are enforced.”
The marriage, divorce and family relations bill was tabled in the house by the Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati.
Among other issues the bill sets the marriage age at 18.
Presenting the bill Kaliati said among other issues this piece of legislation will help regulate marriages, divorce and family relations.
