Latest news with #child marriage
Zawya
4 days ago
- Politics
- Zawya
Empower girls today to build an equal Zimbabwe tomorrow, United Nation (UN) Working Group says
Zimbabwe must urgently invest in girls' rights, education, and safety to ensure gender equality becomes a lived reality for future generations, a UN Working Group said today. Concluding an official visit to the country, the UN Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, issued a statement commending Zimbabwe's constitutional commitment to gender equality and welcoming legislative and programmatic initiatives to advance the rights of women and girls. 'Despite the Government's efforts, persistent discrimination and entrenched patriarchal norms continue to deny girls their fundamental rights and limit their future opportunities,' the Working Group said. 'As one interlocutor told the Working Group during our visit, in Zimbabwe, gender equality is not a choice, it is a constitutional obligation,' the experts said. 'Zimbabwe must actively confront and eradicate patriarchal attitudes that undervalue girls, creating a society which nurtures their potential as future leaders, innovators and changemakers.' The experts expressed particular concern about the prevalence of child marriage and teenage pregnancy. In Zimbabwe, 1.4 million women were married before age 18, and 241,000 before the age of 15. Despite the Marriages Act (2022) setting 18 as the legal minimum age and criminalising child marriage, there have been no prosecutions. Teenage pregnancy remains high at 23%, with nearly 43% of adolescents becoming sexually active before 18 years of age. When seeking sexual and reproductive services, girls face stigma, misinformation about parental consent, and limited access to youth-friendly care. Many are forced to leave school, undermining their long-term wellbeing and independence. The Working Group urged the Government to upscale, resource, and implement targeted interventions for girls, especially those who are from low-income and rural backgrounds, pregnant, married, or otherwise marginalised, and combat discriminatory attitudes within families and communities that undervalue girls' education. They welcomed progress in reducing maternal mortality and introducing national strategies on gender-based violence (GBV), reflected in expanded access to reproductive health services and legal aid in some areas. 'However, child sexual abuse remains a serious concern, with girls left behind by migrant worker parents, unaccompanied minors, girls with disabilities, orphaned girls, and girls belonging to religious sects being particularly vulnerable,' the experts said. They also noted that despite the passage of relevant laws, online spaces increasingly restrict the freedom of expression of women and girls, with frequent targeting through cyberbullying, revenge pornography, victim-blaming, and gendered disinformation. In some provinces, the Working Group was informed that GBV risks for women and girls are exacerbated by an increasing drug and substance abuse crisis, largely among young men. The experts called on the Government to increase anti-GBV sensitisation campaigns, expand training for law enforcement and the judiciary on victim-centered and trauma-informed approaches, and ensure timely prosecutions. 'The Government should adequately resource shelters and One-Stop Centres, which are essential services and a core State responsibility.' The experts stressed the need to ensure that gender equality is embraced as a societal value that benefits all. 'Gender equality is not a zero-sum goal—men and boys also stand to benefit significantly from a more just and equal society,' they said. The Working Group called on the Government to promote public awareness campaigns and prioritise 'human rights education for boys and girls, grounded in the values of equality, dignity, and autonomy.' 'Gender equality must be more than a promise on paper—it must become a lived reality for every woman and girl in Zimbabwe,' they said. The Working Group will present its final report on the visit to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2026. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
RNZ News
23-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Solomon Islands bylaw empowers chiefs to block child marriage
By Khalia Strong , PMN HOPE Trust is set up in communities that are vulnerable to human trafficking due to poverty. Photo: PMN / Supplied In the Solomon Islands, child marriage, sometimes involving girls as young as 12, continues to be driven by poverty, custom, and outdated legislation. But in the remote community of Koleasi, Central Guadalcanal, traditional leaders are reclaiming their role in justice and protection through a locally led initiative that blends custom with legal clarity. "This is the beginning of something great," Prema Maeato, the executive programme director of Homes of Peace and Empowerment (HOPE) Trust, the organisation leading the work, says. "Our people have always governed themselves. What this bylaw does is help them use that power again - this time, to protect the next generation." Koleasi lies near dense forests and active logging camps, where industry brings both opportunity and risk. Maeato says the surrounding environment creates vulnerabilities that communities can no longer ignore. "In our domestic logging camps, there are practices of girls being taken and forced into marriage because of poverty," he says. "Sometimes there are up to seven children in one family, so only one or two are allowed to go to school. "The rest stay home or get married early - where the consent comes from the parents, not the child." The Koleasi Community Bylaw, developed in partnership with Hope Trust and Tearfund, explicitly prohibits marriage under the age of 18. A breach carries a maximum fine of SI$1000. Penalties also apply for organising a forced marriage or harbouring someone against their will. Community leaders, including HOPE Trust and representatives from the police and Tearfund NZ gather to mark the signing of the Koleasi Community Bylaw. Photo: NZ High Commission in Honiara Beyond fines, the bylaw introduces a clear referral pathway, linking community leaders with the Crime Prevention Committee, police, and social services. Chiefs, church leaders, and community representatives are responsible for raising awareness in schools and villages, reinforcing cultural norms that prioritise children's rights and well-being. The bylaw outlines a wide range of consequences for harmful or exploitative behaviour, including the gifting of a live pig, a cash fine, or kogana, a traditional currency made from precious shells. The Koleasi Community Bylaw enables traditional leaders to be part of the justice process. Photo: PMN / Supplied Claire Grey, Head of Advocacy at Tearfund New Zealand, says the Koleasi initiative sets a new standard for how traditional leadership and formal systems can work together to uphold justice. "These bylaws weren't created in a back room and imposed; they were built by the community," she says. "The result is that leaders feel ownership. They understand their mandate, and they know how to act when something goes wrong." She says the bylaw clearly defines which matters are handled at village level, and which must be referred to formal auth "It gives traditional leaders the authority to enforce the rules, and when a case is too serious, like child abuse or exploitation, there's a pathway to escalate it." Maeato says the impact is visible and transformative. "When this bylaw is launched, you can see the pride in people's faces. They feel recognised by the Government, by the Police. "They know their community matters and the traditional leaders realise they still have power - they still have a voice." HOPE Trust works with communities who have high rates of poverty and are near mining and logging camps. Photo: PMN / Supplied Since launching the Koleasi bylaw, Hope Trust has received growing interest from communities in other provinces, including Malaita and Western Province. However, capacity is limited. "We want to build a model in Central Guadalcanal that others can adapt," says Maeato. "But every community is different; their customs are different, so each bylaw must reflect that." Despite these challenges, the progress in Koleasi offers hope, especially for girls who might otherwise be married off without consent or protection. "This bylaw gives traditional leaders the mandate to say no," says Maeato. "It tells the community that children matter, their voices matter, and marriage, exploitation, abuse, none of that is acceptable." The Koleasi Community Bylaw is developed with support from Hope Trust, Tearfund New Zealand, and the SAFE programme funded by New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It came into effect on 19 June 2025. -This article was first published by PMN .
