Girls Empowerment Network (GENET) has urged President Peter to assent the Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill into an Act saying many girls would be protected from early marriages and pregnancies.
The call comes amid mixed reactions on the bill which Malawi’s Parliament passed in February 2015 as some quarters of the society are requesting the President not to assent the bill describing it as a tool to punish men and that issues of homosexuality are not addressed.
Speaking in an interview, GENET Board Chairperson, Takondwa Kaliwo in an interview said passing of the bill in Parliament was a milestone regarding that the law was passed already in place only that some amendments were needed especially on marriage age which is now at 18 years.
Kaliwo said the law would protect young girls from early marriages and pregnancies which hampers their education saying Malawi would a shining example in SADC region on women and girls rights protection.
“Issues to be homosexuality shouldn’t be a matter here. How many will benefit from such calls. Lets, look this bill with a human face not that one is a man or woman as such these calls for not assenting the bill wont be there”,
“Therefore, I calling also all men in this country in appealing the President to assent the bill into law since the legislation will bring levelling field of both men and women in the society as you know that women have been marginalised for many years in daily undertakings”, said Kaliwo.
She said all concerns regarding the bill could be addressed later after allowing the President assent to it saying no any law on earth could accommodate all issues but rather gradual.
Among the concerns on the bill includes excluding the same sex marriages, of declaration marriage on permanent impotent and relations such as cousins, brother-in-law or sister-in-law bases.
However, 21 days have elapsed since the parliament passed the bill waiting the President Peter Mutharika to assent into the law.
