African experts urge action against child marriage, citing rights violations
The ACERWC advocates for a multi-sectoral approach to address root causes, calling for collaboration across health, education and social services.
HARARE, Zimbabwe— African child rights experts called for immediate action to end child marriage across the continent during a presentation Thursday, while new policy briefs highlight legislative challenges and solutions, writes Winston Mwale.
Anne Musiwa, member and rapporteur of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), emphasized the practice's harmful effects on young girls.
"Child marriage is a violation of children's rights and must be addressed immediately," Musiwa said.
"It robs girls of their health, education and future opportunities."
The presentation was part of a training on implementing laws to end child marriage.
Musiwa stressed the need for legislative reforms, urging member states to align national laws with regional standards.
"It is crucial that we close the gaps in our legal frameworks to effectively combat child marriage," she said.
Coinciding with the event, Sally Ncube, Regional Representative for Southern Africa at Equality Now, announced the release of four policy briefs developed in collaboration with UNFPA and the SADC Parliamentary Forum.
"These briefs provide crucial insights into the challenges and opportunities in implementing the SADC Model Law on Child Marriage," Ncube said.
The briefs cover legislative gaps, domestication of the model law, implementation challenges, and the importance of a multi-sectoral approach in ending child marriages.
"Our findings show that while progress has been made, there's still much work to be done in aligning national laws with regional standards," Ncube added.
The ACERWC advocates for a multi-sectoral approach to address root causes, calling for collaboration across health, education and social services.
"Ending child marriage requires a united effort from all sectors of society," Musiwa concluded.
The event, titled "Promoting Implementation of the SADC Model Law on Ending Child Marriage and Protecting Children Already in Marriage," served as a call to action for stakeholders across Africa.