By Grace Kapatuka, MANA
Traditional Chiefs, Civil Society Organisations and other stakeholders from six districts of the country on Tuesday signed an agreement to end child marriage at a ceremony that took place in Salima.
The signing ceremony took place after a thre- day annual conference on girls’ education and youth sexual reproductive health rights organized by Centre for Youth Empowerment and Civic Education (CYECE) whose aim was to give a platform to young boys and girls from six districts to share issues affecting their education and life in general.
Through the agreement, among others, parties have vowed to work together in ensuring that no child enters into marriage before attaining 18 years but instead sent to school.
Speaking in an interview after signing the agreement, Group Village Head Woman Kapenuka of Dedza said she was happy to be party to the agreement, saying the tool will help end child marriage in their respective districts.
“I find this to be a powerful tool that will help us save our children from the pangs of early marriages.
“What is also making it to be powerful is that different stakeholders are coming together to ensure that there is collaborative effort,” she said.
Kapenuka said the trend has affected many girls in the country depriving them of their right to education as well as to good health.
Traditional Authority Mwanza of Salima concurred with GVH Kapenuka, saying many children especially girls have fallen into trouble because they entered into marriages at a tender age.
“Some of them have developed complications due to teenage pregnancies because their bodies were not ready for child birth.
“We are losing many lives in the process, a development I feel can be dealt with if we hold our hands together,” Mwanza said.
CYESE Executive Director, Lucky Mbewe said his organization will continue working hard to ensure that girls’ rights are promoted and safeguarded.
“We are happy that we have made it a mile ahead in promoting girl child rights. We have been doing our part as an NGO, but now that we have had this agreement signed, we hope for better results especially that chiefs are now party to it being crucial players in the communities,” Mbewe said.
The youth conference drew about 150 participants from Salima, Chikwawa, Machinga, Dedza, Mangochi and Lilongwe.
The participants included youths, policy makers, district council officials, NGOs and various stakeholders.