Africa holds first-ever summit on ending child marriage

Malawi delegation participated to Africa Union’s first-ever African Girl’s Summit on Ending Child Marriage held in Lusaka, Zambia.

Malawian delegation at the summit
Malawian delegation at the summit

A two-day gathering which started on Thursday unites diplomats, UN officials and NGOs for talks on how to change regional cultural norms.

The African Union says about 14 million under-age girls are married on the continent each year — almost all of them forced to by their parents, often against laws that are rarely enforced.

The Summit follows the 2014 London Girls Summit and illustrating the African union Commission’s dedication to continue fighting against child marriage and other harmful traditional practices affecting girls and women in Africa.

The African Girls’ Summit is offering recognition of the efforts being made by African Governments and other stakeholders in advocating the rights of children, particularly the girl-child respectively.

Child marriage is deeply rooted in gender inequality, poverty, illiteracy, tradition, religion and culture.

The practice has an impact on the welfare of the child as well as on socio-economic and socio-political developmental efforts.

“Child marriage is a human rights violation that robs girls of their rights to health, to live in security, and to choose if, when and whom to marry,” the AU.

According to a AU, in patriarchal cultures, girls lack the same perceived value as boys right from birth; families and communities and  may discount the benefits of educating and investing in their daughters’ development.

The opening of the summit was graced by Zambian president Edgar Lungu first ladies from Zambia south African, Ethiopia including gender ministers from African continent.

The inaugural AU “child bride” meeting in Lusaka focused on sharing experience of campaigns to reduce child marriage and on securing higher government funding.

 

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Rasta
Rasta
8 years ago

I dont know if u have noticed all i hear is an attack on early child Marriage,fine.But nothing against teenage sex which also causes cervical cancer and u say they can only get married when she is 18 but is it ok to have sex b4 she is married? and the consequences of sex b4 marriage on a society and the girls themselves are huge.To me this is just an attack on Marriage btwn a Man and a woman as a whole under the pretext of child marriges.But instead u r promoting uldetely by making more condoms and for even… Read more »

Chisomo
Chisomo
8 years ago

Ku Cz zanyanya

Kharupa muurupari
8 years ago

Ingodyani ma allowansiwo muzibwera! Do you need a summit in SA to curb early marriages in Balaka? Mukabwera ntchito kuonera porn muofesi basi. Shupit!

Yahudah
8 years ago

What is marriage? Genesis 2:18 And YAH The Creator said, “It is not good for the man to be alone, I am . going to make a helper for him, as his counterpart.” Genesis 2:21-24 21. So YAH Mighty One caused a deep sleep to fall on the man, and he skept. And He took one of his ribs, and closed u the flesh in its place. 23 And the man said,”This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. This one is called ‘woman,’ because she was taken out of man. “24 For this cause a… Read more »

Malipeya
Malipeya
8 years ago

Mukabwera muzatithandize kuponyera mundende a Mp anyenga ndikukwata kamwana ku Lilongwe.

NIX
NIX
8 years ago

I don’t see african leaders here!what do u mean when u say child marriage?girls of 18 yrs up wards can get married if its necessary,some girls messes around then what shud their parents do? When they get impragnated where do they run?to human rights groups and ngo’s?? You human rights groups are spoiling many children in africa!the westerners are using u to teach their shamelessness and immoral behaviour in our continent,that’s why children are losing respect and culture, becoz of you pulpets of westerners!most of you are working for them blindly.u don’t knw what is their aim! Becarefull my fellow… Read more »

PICHI
PICHI
8 years ago

ki ki ki ki kodi chimakhala chani kumavala zovala zoseketsa ku ma meeting akunjawa? Timavala chonchi ku ma meeting ku Malawi? Ma cartoon basi.

dzambo
dzambo
8 years ago

so how do you end child marriage, by meeting there?

becks
becks
8 years ago

Meetings meetings meetings

guta
guta
8 years ago

Good luck team Malawi

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