End child marriage, says UWI student group

In a statement issued on Thursday, the UWI Socialist Student Conference said youth and development are central to the UWI SSC advocacy, therefore any system that undervalues, harms and limits the possibilities for growth and the stability of a child ought to be challenged and discontinued.

It said that “Continuing the practice of child marriage continues to violate a child’s right to education, health, and equality and to live a life free of violence and exploitation.” According to the statement, the UWI Socialist Student Conference said, “We cannot make decisions about the lives of our children based on party affiliation and cultural practices simply for an uncritical commitment to “tradition”. Bureaucratic foot dragging and political partisanship have created a context of weak political leadership on providing protection for children and girls in the law on this matter.

The girls of this country are being attacked psychologically and physically and we need to put an end to it starting with the amendments to this bill and simultaneously change the way we understand and treat the girl child collectively.

We challenge the adults in parliament to listen to the majority voice of youth nationally against child marriage.”