Writing for Rights: Kaniz, 14, Bangladesh
Dear Sir,
Greetings from Bangladesh!
A child should play with her doll and go to school with joy with her friends. But when a child who still does not know how to take care of her own health or how to put her books in order is married, unfortunately she has to take all the responsibilities of her husband’s household at that time. A young child can become a victim of inhumane oppression and roguery, when she can’t do work properly.
Many under-age girls die when giving birth to a child.
Two years ago a 16-year-old girl named Hira became married due to poverty and helplessness. In her early age her mother died. Her father married again. Her stepmother used to oblige her to do work rather than let her study. When she was 16, her father compelled her to marry a boy who is less than 21 years old. Within one month she became divorced and had to come back home. She is passing an unbearable, helpless life now. This type of example is often seen in this area.
Many under-age girls die when giving birth to a child. An under-age mother cannot take care of her child properly, and so the child does not grow up properly due to lack of nutritious food. About 40 per cent of girls under 18 become married in our area. Most of them become victims of child marriage between 13 and 17 years of age. I do not see any noticeable action by government, Union Parishad (UP),1 chairman or members in this regard. In fact, many of them are involved in this matter. Sometimes they are the ones who provide birth certificates that show a higher age and attend the wedding also. I cannot see any salvation from this.
CRC articles 19 and 34 talk about protecting children. In the Child Marriage Prevention Act (amended in 1984) it has been said that child marriage means the marriage of a girl under 18 or a boy under 21 years old. According to the punishment provision, if an adult person marries a child or becomes involved in child marriage then he or she will be condemned with 1,000 taka2 or one month imprisonment. The local corporation or UP chairman is empowered to give that punishment according to the law.
Awareness should be raised in this area further so no one becomes unbearably helpless like Hira. The law-enforcement agency should take special initiatives regarding this. A birth certificate has to be digitised. The punishment for child marriage is of no value.
They should be punished with 50,000 taka or two years rigorous imprisonment or both. Many times child marriage happens because of women also, and they should be punished the same. Request to Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of UN: please advise our government to become stern on child marriage prevention as well as child protection.
Kaniz, 14-years-old, Bangladesh