Cultural barriers challenge to stop child marriage
Says state minister Shirin Sharmin
State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury speaks at the inaugural ceremony of International Day of the Girl Child held at the UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday. On her left are UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Photo: Courtesy
Steps to stop child marriage will remain ineffective unless the challenges of traditional and cultural barriers have been overcome, said State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury on Thursday. She told the inaugural ceremony of the “International Day of the Girl Child” at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York, USA. Pointing out the disadvantages and health hazards associated with early marriages of girls, Dr Shirin said the Bangladesh government has taken various steps and legal measures to prevent child marriage. “Showing of national identification card or birth certificate has been made compulsory for registration of marriage,” she added. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, in his inaugural speech at the programme, said more investment has to be made for the development of girls to achieve development at national and international level. “Child marriage will eliminate gradually if we give proper opportunity of education to girl child,” he said, emphasising empowering girls through educating them. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet, UNFPA Executive Director Dr Babatunde Osotimehin, Unicef Deputy Executive Director Geeta Rao Gupta, youth activist Gaicha Salmatou Agali from Niger also addressed the programme. Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Dr AK Abdul Momen and Deputy-Permanent Representative Mostafizur Rahman were also present at the programme.
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