Child, not bride.

In 2021? athink, a bill was raised to stop child marriage.

Our Law makers voted against it, as one of our most highly placed Government officials went ahead to marry a 13-year-old child.

Let’s back up a little, according to Section 277 of the Child rights act, a child is a person who has not attained the age of 18 years.

In simple terms, anyone under 18 years of existence is a child and any marriage involving a child below 18 is not Early marriage, it is child marriage.

Early marriage is getting married in your early, formative adult age, not below 18.

Child marriage is wrong on so many levels, but more on the mental and physical health of the child.

Not only does it pose a danger to the child’s body when delivery is involved: when a child’s body isn’t fully formed and she has to give birth, it is the leading cause of VVF.

It also has psychological effects on the child.

Today, I urge you to stand against Child marriage.

Speak about it.

Refuse to be involved in it.