MARRIAGE ACT REVIEW CHEERS WOMEN'S LOBBY

Thu, 31 Aug 2017 10:59:45 +0000

By Annie Zulu

THE Zambia National Women’s Lobby (ZNWL) has welcomed Government’s decision to revise the Marriage Act that will describe a child as any person under the age of 21.

ZNWL chairperson Beauty Katebe said the proposed law to increase the legal age of marriage to 21 if enacted would allow more girls to reach their potential.

Presently, the law describes a child as anyone under the age of 16 while any person can marry at the age of 18.

Minister of Gender Victoria Kalima announced that Government was in the process of revising the Marriage Act so that no person, girl or boy should be married before the age of 21.

Ms Kalima said the Marriage Bill was before the Ministry of Justice and would soon be presented to Parliament.

The minister said once the bill was passed, it would be illegal for anyone to marry or have carnal knowledge of a person under the age of 21.

Ms Katebe noted that the law would be a milestone in setting the tone with respect to early child marriages in Zambia, which had been prohibiting girls from reaching their full potential for years.

“Child marriage violates the fundamental human rights of girls and boys, but disproportionately affects girls. Girls are denied their right to a consensual marriage, as well as their right to an education, protection, economic engagement and reproductive health care.

“As a country, we have worked hard to ensure social and policy change is put in place, so we can eradicate all forms of child marriage, so this is definitely a great move by the government,” Ms Katebe said.