KABUL (SW): A nationwide campaign against early-age marriages has been launched here on Tuesday.
The United Nations (UN), the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA), Ministry of Information and Culture (MoIC) and other national and international organizations joined hands for this campaign. Rula Ghani, the First Lady of the country, on the occasion of commencement of the Program said the National Unity Government (NUG) is determined to fight this menace. She said the program will be implemented with the help of the government of Canada, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). “The initiative is aimed at preventing and eliminating child marriages while offering services to support those at risk”, informed the First Lady.
She added that the citizens of the country have always wished for a healthy society, and this is only achievable via elimination of violence and early marriages of the girls.
Kent Nephled, the Canadian ambassador in Kabul, said poverty is one of the main reasons for the under-age marriages in Afghanistan. He pledge Canada’s support in the elimination of the issue.
Based on the report published by UNFPA in 2016, one in every three girl is married off before completing the age of 18 in the developing countries which includes Afghanistan. Under-age and forced marriages result in high mortality rate, social and economic problems and danger to the life and health of both the mother and the new-born.
ENDS
