Institute of Gender Studies says no to child marriage

“As the Miscellaneous Provisions (Marriage) Bill 2016 is debated again in the House of Representatives, the IGDS calls on Members of Parliament to prioritise the life and livelihood options of girls, and protection of minors in their contributions and in their support of the bill’s passage.” The IGDS advocates for a legal and social policy grounded in sound understanding of adolescent sexuality. They said TT’s current laws allow the marriage of minors.

“Global commitments compel us as a nation to defend the rights of all our citizenry. Both the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Committee and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) Committee have called upon State Parties to raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 for girls and boys.” Saying the existing law disproportionately affects girls, the IGDS said this legal inequality must be changed. “The debate on this Bill is an historic opportunity for law makers in Trinidad and Tobago to put into Hansard the commitment of all parties entrusted with the responsibility to uphold the rights of minors, particularly that of minor girls. This moment must be one in which the nation rallies around the priority to protect our girls to grow, develop, and achieve their fullest potential.” The IGDS, in its quest for social justice and gender-responsive human development, is committed to eliminating obstacles to gender equality, by ending discrimination against women and the girl child.

“Global facts are that marriage of minors interrupts education, constrains personal development and agency, and legally sanctions the exposure of children to sexual harm and exploitation.

This needs further research in Trinidad and Tobago to understand the effects of marriage on those married as teenagers, particularly girls.” Amid the complexities of the issue, the IGDS urged responsible deliberation and action from sitting MPs who must prioritise the protection of girls from marriage.