Childhood marriage was prohibited in the Philippines, under a law entered into force Thursday in this country where one in six girls married before the age of 18."The state (...) considers child's marriage as a mistreatment of minors because it degrades, degrades and lowers the intrinsic value and the dignity of the child," says the law, made publicThursday, January 6.
Reading such a children of children: why is the COVVI-19 crisis to worsen the situation?
See also - Philippines: the victims of the Typon Rai celebrate Christmas
One in six Philippine is married before the age of 18.International plan, an rights to defend the UK based in the UK that has campaigned for the adoption of this law, classifies the Philippines 12th in the world with regard to the number of children's marriages concluded on its soil.Now, whoever marries a person under the age of 18 or cohabits with him, or arranges or famous such unions, is liable to 12 years in prison.
According to the Philippine government, the law is in accordance with international conventions relating to the rights of women and children.Ana Maria Locsin, director for the Philippines of International Plan, welcomed the new law.“Children's marriage is a harmful practice that can have a lasting impact throughout the lives of girls and boys.She deprives them of the right to be immune to violence, the right to education and sexual rights and reproductive health, "she said to AFP.
Certain provisions of the law will however remain pending for one year for Muslim and native communities, where engagement and child weddings are relatively frequent.The purpose of the transition period is to give the government time to convince the followers of this practice to give it up.
Reading children's wedding marriages also concern millions of boys
The Philippines, the mainly Catholic country, have an important Muslim minority which lives mainly in the south of the country.In the Muslim autonomous region of the southern island of Mindanao, the vice-president of the local parliament, Ziaur-Rahman Adiong, said that several members of his assembly had tried to convince President Rodrigo Duterte to oppose his veto to the law, without success.In this region, a 1977 law authorized the Muslim Philippins to marry when they reach puberty, defined for women on the date of their first rules."We understand that child marriage is not popular in several sectors of the country, but we must also consider the different definitions of 'puberty' as a function of what the law says and according to the Islamic perspective,"declared Ziaur-Rahman Adiong.
More than 500 million girls and women currently alive in the world have been married in their childhood, the highest rates being recorded in sub -Saharan Africa and South Asia, recalls a report by the United Nations Childhood Fund(UNICEF) published in 2021. However, recent data indicate that children's marriages are generally declined around the world.
To see also -"We are calling for help": the distress of the survivors after a powerful typhoon in the Philippines
Eudaemonism: all about this philosophy of happiness
GO
How Danielle Collins became a champion again despite having endometriosis
GO
Effects of palm oil on health: what are the dangers?
GO
Seven cases of COVID-19 are added to the regional balance sheet of Gaspésie
GO