Issues of child marriage especialling in the Northern region has increased in spite of a vigorous campaign by the Ministry for Gender and Social Protection.
Saboba, a district in the Northern region has recorded the highest number which is hampering girl child education in the area.
Checks by Adom News reveals that, the high level of poverty in the district is the major cause of the practice. Teenage pregnancy and high school drop outs are contributory factors.
A primary five victim of the early child-marriage who spoke to Adom News on condition of anonymity said, she was given out to an old man to marry because her parents could not afford to take her to school.
The young girl said she now has three children and has no future plans.
She however appealed to the Gender Ministry to intensify its campaign on child-marriage in the three Northern regions.
Also, Assistant Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Prosper Bigema said they know about the increasing rate of child marriage in the Saboba district.
He indicated that, as part of the Commissions efforts to combat the practice, a committee has been set up to stop parents from giving out their young daughters into marriage.
Prosper Bigema also appealed to chiefs, opinion leaders, stakeholders to support their campaign to end the practice of child-marriage in the district.
In light with this, World Vision has launched the End Child-Marriage campaign to complement the efforts of the commission for human rights and administrative justice to combat the canker.
As part of the campaign, World Vision’s Northern Regional Operation Manager, Timothy Amang-Bey Akanpabadae said they have intensified to stop the practice.
He said World Vision is training 100 women in improved farming methods and also provide them with farming tools and startup capitals to start small businesses to take care of their children.
The initiative, Mr. Akanpabadae is to enable them pay the fees of the children, keeping them in school and reducing poverty in the district which will ultimately reduce the rate at which children are given out into marriage.
Really, a class five pupil already had 3 kids? What is the age of the said victim? Just curious