Let's make child marriage a part of history

Child marriage was and still is, a problem in many countries – especially developing countries around the world. Despite many laws against it, the practice remains widespread. Poverty, gender inequality and lack of education are just a part of the vicious cycle from which derive reasons for this oppressing problem.

It was estimated that in developing countries, one in every three (1/3) girls is married before reaching age 18, and one in nine (1/9) is married under age 15. Girls often become pregnant at an early age, when the risk of complications in pregnancy or childbirth is very high. Child marriage represents an obstacle in many girls’ lives where their health is threatened. It is limiting the future prospects of female population because girls cannot finish schooling and create career they want, which is also one of the causes for the slow economic growth of the states with large number of child marriages.

The map showing where child marriage under the age of 18 is prevalent.

The highest rates of child marriage have, by the data available on Girls not Brides - global partnership - Cameroon and Ethiopia. Ethiopia is situated on the 14th spot on the world scale with the percentage of 41, whereas Cameroon, with the 38% lies on the 20th place. Will these be the only countries that will dare to expose the real ugly truth behind the closed doors? They have surely been inspected under the light, guess who's next?

There are some documents that are a part of international law and contain the right to free and full consent to a marriage. The main such conventions are the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on Consent to Marriage, with the understanding that consent to a marriage is perceived as free and full when both of the parties are enough mature to make a decision about a life partner. Despite all efforts that states invested in the formation of such international legislation to discourage child marriage, there are still cases where national legal framework violate international norms. For example in states, where females and males are treated differently and where legal age of marriage for girls is 16 and for boys 18.

Child marriage is a human rights violation and should be banned. On Thursday, 20 April 2017 at 12 o’clock, the countries will join their forces in the Official mock session in Ljubljana at the Faculty of Social Sciences, where they will try to put an end to this nightmare.

We already managed to talk with the Presiding Officers and ask them some questions about their expectations regarding the upcoming event

The Interceptor: The topic discussed at the first Official mock session will be Child Marriage. Why do you find this issue so important that needs to be discussed?

PO: The topic of Child Marriage is an issue we must, however sad it might be, address over and over again in a plethora of different international fora. This time, it falls upon the General Assembly, a body which occupies a central position as the chief deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the United Nations.

It is a perfect place for the broadest discussion as the General Assembly provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues. It also plays a significant role in the process of standard-setting. And the addressing the issue of Child Marriage in the General Assembly can only benefit in the endeavours of the United Nations in this regard.

The Interceptor: Why is important for countries to have a minimum legal age of marriage?

PO: It is a great question, but the recipients are not the right addresses. The national legislation is a matter for our Member States to take care of, and we do not have, nor wish to have the authority to influence the sovereign decisions of the States. The law is what states decide the law is.

But the United Nations system served as a ground for decisions made in this regard. For example, in December 2011, a resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly designated October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child. A year later, in 2012 the first International Day of the Girl Child was held, the theme of which was ending child marriage. In 2013 the first United Nations Human Rights Council resolution against child, early, and forced marriages was adopted. It recognises child marriage as a human rights violation, and pledges to eliminate the practice as part of the UN's post-2015 global development agenda. In 2014 the UN's Commission on the Status of Women issued a document in which they agreed, among other things, to eliminate child marriage.

The Interceptor: Do you think the minimum age of marriage legislation is enough to end child marriage? What else is needed?

PO: It is once again a question for the Member States, and we have no authority whatsoever to influence the decisions of the States. Any legislation States adopt is their internal law, and therefore their sovereign decision. It shall not be forgotten, the General Assembly has no authority to adopt legally binding documents. Yet, it can happen, as it did in the past, the discussions and resolutions touch upon a broad range of causes, and possible solutions, that encompass not just the need for national legislation, but, inter alia, address also cultural practices, enforcement of laws, traditional roles, and other issues.

The Interceptor: What are your expectations about the first Official mock session?

PO: The success of the Session is up to the Delegates, and how well prepared they are. So it goes for the procedural knowledge, where studying the Rules of Procedure is, indeed, necessary; as well as for the substantive preparation. Materials that have been provided to the Delegates - the Study Guide - is a great starting point, but it is just a guide, and it does not prejudice the positions of respective countries. It is up to the Delegates to represent those positions.

The first - that is Thursday's - session will be dedicated to discussion, and mastering the Procedure, meanwhile the second session - the one on Friday - will be all about writing a resolution, and amending it. A much needed skill for each and every single Delegate.

We will do - and are doing - everything in our power to make it easy for the Delegates, and now it is entirely up to them to take what is being offered to them. We cannot write resolutions instead of the Delegates, and at the later sessions, there will be no time to learn how to do it. Hence, we sincerely hope the sessions are taken seriously, and very much so.

We all hope the deliberations at the first session will be fuitfull and states will find the way to end the Child marriage problem.

#GASIM2017 #ChildMARRIAGE #letsmakeachange