Outlaw marriages under the age of 18, urges Gerakan Wanita
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been urged to standardise laws against child marriage for those under the age of 18 and define what constitutes as the age of adulthood following the recent tabling of the Sexual Offences Against Children Bill 2017.
Gerakan Wanita chief Datuk Tan Lian Hoe said an existing provision in the Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce) Act 1976 still allowed nonMuslims to marry between the ages of 16 and 18, while Muslims were allowed to marry before 16 with consent from the Syariah court.
She said a standardised comprehensive definition could lead to a more streamlined measure in protecting children, to prevent contradictions with existing laws within similar spheres.
“The introduction of the Sexual Offences Against Children Bill 2017 should be accompanied by comprehensive and consistent efforts to review other existing laws to outlaw child marriage under the age of 18, regardless of sex or religion.” On Monday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the bill did not include child marriages as they were parked under specific provisions.
Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation senior vice-president Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye believed societal awareness coupled with the bill, would help address issues of exploitation and sexual abuse against children.
“In addition to the lack of enforcement on the existing legislation, inadequate laws are part of the reason why sexual crimes against children are rampant.”
Childline Malaysia project director Datin P.H. Wong said substantial protection for children should be in place to combat sexual crimes against children.
“We need long-term strategic plans and a short-term overhaul of the whole child protection system, so that the good intention of the bill can be implemented effectively to protect children,” she said.