Exhibition highlights urgent need to end child marriage

KUCHING: Child, early and forced marriages are all harmful practices that have been threatening the lives and future of girls and women around the world.

Canada High Commissioner in Malaysia, Judith St George, talked about this issue yesterday at the launch of ‘Girls’ Voices: Speaking Up Against Child Marriage’ – a photo exhibition presented by the Canadian government and ‘Girls Not Brides in Kuching’ at the Spring Shopping Mall here.

“With an estimated 15 million girls worldwide being married off before their 18th birthday, the practice undermines the development of families, communities and countries,” said St George.

However, she pointed out that there was a cause to be optimistic as the international momentum to end child marriage had been growing. She said leaders, communities, regional organisations and girls themselves had been speaking up and taking actions to end the practice of child marriage.

“Canada has a long history of collaborating with global partners to protect human rights and also to promote gender equality. Canada is proud to help build international momentum to end child, early and forced marriages.

“This includes Canada’s leadership on the creation of the International Day of the Girl, developing substantive resolutions at the United Nations, and investing RM214 million in programming support to Canadian and civil society partners worldwide,” said St George.

The exhibition is open to the public till March 12, running from 10am to 10pm daily at the North Court on the first floor of the shopping mall.