Mozambique: Traditional leaders urged to take the lead on ending child marriage

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Mozambique: Traditional leaders urged to take the lead on ending child marriage

2:52 CAT | 29 Mar 2021

Photo: Noticias

Traditional leaders are the guardians of social norms and practices, so they must join the government and civil society organisations in the development of community actions aimed at combating child marriage in the country.

Such is the call emanating from the wife of the President of the Republic, Isaura Nyusi, speaking in Maputo on Friday at the opening of the National Forum of Community Leaders on combating gender-based sexual violence and premature unions.

Isaura Nyusi said that this group can and should contribute to reducing gender-based violence, a harmful practice that undermines the development of society and harmony in Mozambican families.

The forum brought together representatives from three provinces – Gaza, Manica and Nampula – where the “Spotlight” initiative, which aims to accelerate the prevention and response to gender-based sexual violence and premature unions for girls, adolescents and young women, is being implemented.

The First Lady said in her speech that gender-based violence and premature marriage destroyed the dreams of thousands of women and girls, the reason why, she said, the government was committed to protecting the rights of children, girls and women victims of violence, abuse and sexual exploitation.

In addition to the strategies, action plans, laws and policies established by the government and implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, the country, through various actions, conventions, treaties and protocols, had been leveraging several fronts for combating these phenomena, she stressed.

“This opportunity offers a renewed and pleasant opportunity to reaffirm my commitment to the fight against gender-based sexual violence, and to preventing and combating premature unions, a phenomenon that has slowed the development of the country and society in general,” Isaura Nyusi said.

She stressed that she would, together with the staff of her cabinet, redouble her efforts to eliminate all harmful practices that contribute to the increase of inequalities, injustices and violations of human rights, especially of women and girls.

The executive director of the Gender Sustainable Development Association, Alice Banze, explained that the forum aimed to create a network of traditional leaders at national level, working to eliminate premature marriage and expand their evidence-based advocacy to end the phenomenon in the country.

“Only united around the vision of a just society, without inequalities and vulnerabilities, will we make Mozambique a country where men and women fight and have access and control over the opportunities that life offers them,” Banze said.

The Secretary of State for the city of Maputo, Sheila Afonso and the representative of the United Nations for women, Marie Laetitia, were also present at the event.

Source: Noticias