Tag: child marriages

Equality Now Urges Stronger Child Protection Measures at ACERWC 45th Ordinary Session

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Maseru, Lesotho – International human rights organization Equality Now, has called for urgent and reinforced actions to safeguard children’s rights in Africa during the 45th Ordinary Session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC). Addressing the high-level gathering, Sally Ncube, Equality Now’s representative, emphasized the pressing need for legal reforms and stronger enforcement mechanisms to protect children from harmful practices, violence, and exploitation. The year 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare…

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In 2025, Lets Unite In Tackling Gender-Based Violence and Child Marriages In Zimbabwe

Healthtimes

By Edinah Masiyiwa During the final weeks of 2024, two events made me think deeply about gender-based violence and what more we can do in 2025 to address it. The first was a film screening organized by the British Embassy titled India’s Daughter. The film tells the story of Jyoti Singh, a 23-year-old medical student who was brutally assaulted by a group of men on a minibus while returning home from watching a movie. She succumbed to her injuries a few days later. As the film played, the room was…

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Manicaland Child Marriage Survivors Find Solace In Economic Strengthening Programs

Michael Gwarisa

DUE to economic hardships and prolonged schools closure at the back of recurrent COVID-19 induced lockdowns, Marvelous Tsambe* (16) from Chikore Village in Chimanimani entered into an early child marriage at the age 14 as an escape from the challenges back home. However, to her surprise, marriage did not bring the much anticipated economic escape. By Michael Gwarisa in Manicaland  Just like most girls her age in her area, Marvelous fell for Majoni-Joni or those young men who illegally cross the border to work in South Africa. Whenever they return…

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3.3 Million Children At Risk Of Child Marriage Due To Post Pandemic Hunger Crisis – World Vision

Michael Gwarisa

A child that went to bed hungry in the past 4 weeks is 60% more likely to be married than their peers who did not experience hunger  Number of children experiencing crisis level hunger increased by 12 million between 2019 to 2020, meaning an additional 3.3 million children could be married before the age of 18.   Children who are not in school are 3.4 times more likely to be married than their peers that are in school.    82% of the children interviewed who were married became married after the debut of the pandemic.…

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Child Marriages Not Part Of Our Culture Says Chief Charumbira

Healthtimes

ZIMBABWE Chief Council (ZCC) president, Chief Fortune Charumbira has castigated grown men who take children as their wives and described the practice as unZimbabwean. By Patricia Mashiri In an interview with HealthTimes, Chief Charumbira said men who take child brides were doing so as a disguise to abuse children and force them into marriages in the name of culture. There is no culture which promote child marriages. Long ago people married girls at the age of 20 at most. They first looked if the girl could take care of a…

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Realign Policies To End Child Marriages In Zim

Healthtimes

EKENIA Chifamba, Director Shamwari yeMwanasikana a Non-Government Organization that provides support for and supports the empowerment and emancipation of the girl child in Zimbabwe has called on policy makers to bridge the gap between the constitution of Zimbabwe and  the criminal law and codification and reform act so as to protect the girl child. By Patricia Mashiri The constitution of Zimbabwe criminalizes marriage of a girl that is below the age of 18 whilst clashing with section 70 of the Criminal law and codification and reform act which says a…

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Chiefs Want Punitive Powers Over Child Marriages

Healthtimes

MIDLANDS Province’s Chief Muhumbane said traditional leaders and chiefs must be granted powers to punish child marriages offenders if the prevailing surge in child marriages cases is to be nipped in the bud. By Michael Gwarisa Speaking during a Chief’s Indaba in Gweru, Chief Muhumbane said there was conflict between customary law and criminal law and as a result, chiefs were battling to combat Child marriages. “Your excellency, we ask that there be clarity on issues of customary law and criminal law. Many a timers, you find that offenses are…

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Teen Pregnancies Rock Chimanimani

Healthtimes

By Michael Gwarisa A total of 237 teenage girls have given birth at Mutambara Mission Hospital since the beginning of the year. Briefing ministry of health officials and donors, officials at the Hospital confirmed the sad development and blamed the presence of illegal miners in the Rusitu and Hotsprings areas. “Teen pregnancies is a major challenge in Chimanimani district, 237 teenagers have given birth Mutambara mission hospital since January. “Mutsvangwa, Rusitu & Hotsprings are hot spots in teen preg in Chimanimani district mostly because of illegal mining activities in these areas. Mutambara…

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