277 premature unions registered in Mozambique so far this year

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277 premature unions registered in Mozambique so far this year

5:44 CAT | 10 Dec 2021

Photo: O País

At least 277 premature unions were registered in Mozambique over the last nine months, an increase of 101 cases compared to the same period last year. The information was provided by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Gender and Children and Social Action, while calling for yet more complaints to be filed in this regard.

Despite the country having the Law on Prevention and Fight against Premature Unions – Number 19/2019, of 22 October – the phenomenon continues unabated in Mozambican society. The numbers speak for themselves, with the General Command of the Police of the Republic pointing to the provinces of Tete, Gaza and Manica as those with the highest incidence in the last nine months.

Tonecas Manhiça, from the Department of Family and Minors Victims of Violence at the General Command of the Police of the Republic, says that many cases of premature union registered this year may be in communities where there were previously no services to assist families and minors who were victims of violence.

“There are places where there were still no services to attend situations of premature marriages. These new cases may have been, for the most part, reported in these new centres addressing this type of problem,” Manhiça said.

According to Manhiça, under-reporting of poverty and family collusion are among the factors that favour premature marriages, which is why coordinated actions are needed to combat the phenomenon.

For the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, the reported cases result from tip offs and the authorities therefore appeal for victims to continue reporting.

“These numbers are the result of denunciations. One of our goals is for victims to approach the authorities and report the occurrence of premature unions,” ministry representative Angélica Magaia stressed.

For its part, civil society says that the Law for the Prevention and Fight against Premature Unions must be reflected in concrete actions.

“It is still premature to assess the efficiency of the law, as it was approved only very recently. The most important thing is that there actions is being taken against this evil,” said Salomé Mimbir, project manager at the Civil Society Forum for the Rights of the Child.

This information was shared on Wednesday, during the launch of the EU Mais movement, an initiative which aims to publicise the Premature Unions statute.

By Precidonio Silverio

Source: O País