Child marriage causes violence against women

As child marriage is one of the main reasons of physical, mental and sexual violence against women, minimum marriageable age for females should not be lowered from 18, said speakers at a roundtable yesterday.

The roundtable on stopping child marriage was organised by the Bangla daily Prothom Alo, and the Department of Women and Gender Studies of Dhaka University at the daily's office in the capital.

Urging the government not to lower the marriageable age, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman said, "People who advised the prime minister for this have misled her.”

Tania Haque, head of the department, said, “Although the laws stipulate that females cannot marry before 18, more than 60 percent of them marry before reaching 18. Lowering the legal threshold would worsen the situation.”

Professor Emeritus Dr Najma Chowdhury of DU said, "Child marriage causes maternal mortality and we force our girls towards physical and mental oppression by marrying them off at their early age.”

Law Minister Anisul Huq said men should play a proactive role to protect women's rights and stop child marriages.

Many grooms prefer younger brides, said Women's rights leader Maleka Begum, adding that the men need to be educated as well.

Noted psychiatrist Prof Mehtab Khanam, and Rina Roy, director (rights division) of Manusher Jonno Foundation, stressed that girls should not be blamed when they become the victim of stalking and harassment.

“Parents often marry their daughters off when they become the victim of violence,” said Rina Roy.

Gender studies professors of DU Nazmunnessa Mahtab and Ayesha Banu; Sara Hossain, director of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust; Ashrafunnesa, joint secretary to the women and children affairs ministry; and Shamima Begum, deputy commissioner of the Women Support and Investigation Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, also spoke at the event moderated by Abdul Quayum, associate editor of Prothom Alo.