UNFPA Welcomes Gambia’s Ban on Child Marriage

 

Kunle Adeniyi, Head of Office of the United Nation Population Fund in the country has welcomes the government of The Gambia’s recent ban on child marriage in a press briefing held at their head office in Bakau Cape-point on July 14, 2016.

Mr. Kunle said his office is happy about declaration ban on child marriage and will gives every necessary support to the government of the Gambia on issues of such. He also welcomes the government for making political measures on female genital mutilation (FGM), child base violation

Speaking to journalist Mr. Kunle highlighted that child marriage is a human rights violation, and threatens girls’ lives and health, and it limits their future prospects.

He stress that one of the leading causes of death in maternal mortality death is child marriage and that anyone who is a convert to the message should be an advocate of it to those who don’t know about the harmful effects of child marriage.

He points out that everyone wants a child that will be a dependent but a child will be beneficiary to general and the family as well but that child marriage makes girls to be dependent because it’s like a child who needs help from is given a responsibility to take care of another child, which is her own at a wrong times.

He said child marriage also constitute child right violations because teenagers are not capable of handling early motherhood and it also stop them from going to school, and deprived them of making decision on their own and causing them economic restriction which if the given opportunity to grow up to expectation or given the space to develop her own potential she would be able to create opportunities not only on the economic areas of her own but the country as whole.

Girls pressed into child marriage often become pregnant while still adolescents, increasing the risk of complications in pregnancy or childbirth. These complications are a leading cause of death among older adolescents in developing countries.

He said his office promotes legislation and programmes designed to end child marriage, and also supports evidence-based, girl centered investments that empower girls with the information, skills and services they need to be healthy, educated and safe, helping them make a successful transition to adulthood as they stand to delivered a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

He stresses that they as well help young girls make a successful transition to adulthood and also works to support the needs of married girls particularly in family planning and maternal health.

 According to him when a girl becomes pregnant, her present and future change radically, and rarely for the better. Pregnancy before a girl is physically, developmentally and socially ready jeopardizes her right to a safe, successful life

He said every year his office commemorates the world population day, which affects billions of people in the world and its focusing on inventions which 64 per cent are below 25 years, 42 below 15 years, and 20 per cent are young girls.  

author:  Mafugi Ceesay