Hakam: Protect children, ban early marriage

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Human Rights Society (Hakam) is calling for a ban on child marriage and for new laws to criminalise the act.

Its president, Professor Datuk Dr Gurdial Singh, said early marriage violated human rights and the Convention on the Rights of a Child, of which Malaysia was a signatory.

“There must be laws that are put in place to prohibit and criminalise child marriage. Studies have shown that it has consequences, especially for girls. Sadly, the problem is nothing new in Malaysia.”

He said in 2010, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry revealed that there were close to 15,000 Malaysian girls in child marriages.

“The new government must come up with a plan to protect children, especially girls. The Pakatan Harapan manifesto included the introduction of a new law, which sets 18 as the minimum age of marriage.”

He urged the government to fulfil the pledge.

Joint Action Group for Gender Equality also called for the ban on child marriage.

“It is appalling that this case surfaced barely days after the ‘Girls Not Brides’ international conference held here, calling for a global ban on child marriage.”