No Plans To Ban Child Marriages Says Minister

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The government says it wants to implement the National Strategic Plan in Handling the Causes of Child Marriages.PETALING JAYA: The government does not have any plans to ban underage marriages, but women, family and community development minister Rina Harun says it remains committed to preventing such unions.
Responding to a question from Nurul Izzah Anwar (PH-Permatang Pauh), Rina said there were different aspects that needed to be addressed in curbing child marriages, aside from amending legal provisions.
In a written reply, she said there was a need to manage the issue through education, advocacy, strengthening the family institution and socioeconomic support in the community.
“The government does not have any plans to ban underage marriages for now. However, the government remains committed to curbing underage marriages by implementing the National Strategic Plan in Handling the Causes of Child Marriages.
“At the same time, a steering committee has been formed to monitor the implementation and development of the programmes that have been planned,” she said.
Nurul Izzah had asked about the status of the plan to ban child marriages to curb child exploitation and if Rina’s ministry would hold discussions with the various state Islamic religious authorities since the legal age to marry was under their purview.
To Nurul Izzah’s second question, Rina said Putrajaya would discuss her suggestion with the Islamic development department (Jakim) and shariah judiciary department.
“I urge all stakeholders, whether at the federal or state government level, to be more concerned over the issue and to jointly support the government’s effort to manage underage marriages to safeguard our children’s future,” she said.
In October, women’s rights groups had renewed their call on Putrajaya to revive the national plan on child marriage launched by the Pakatan Harapan administration to put a stop to underage marriages.
Sisters in Islam said that since the change of government in 2020, there had been no clear indication if the women, family and community development ministry would implement the national strategic plan in handling child marriage and its causes. - FMT

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