Nigerian Feminist Forum Calls On National Assembly To Reconsider Senate Resolution On Marriage Age For Women


The Nigerian Feminist Forum (NFF) has expressed great concern about a resolution of the Nigeria Senate to alter section 29(a) of the constitution which stipulates that a woman shall not be qualified for marriage until she attains 18 years of age, and called on the National Assembly to reconsider the resolution.

In a statement signed by Geraldyn Ezeakile, NFF pointed out on Wednesday that the decision, part of the ongoing constitutional review process, will remove the age specification of women who can marry and would further deem a woman to be of “full age” once she is married, irrespective of the age she did so.

“This action is a clear violation of Article 21(2) of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child which prohibits child marriage and betrothal as well as Article 6 (b) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa which provides that the minimum age of marriage for women is 18 years,” the statement said.
 

It noted that it also violates Section 21 of the Child Rights Act of which forbids the marriage of persons below 18 years and imposes a punishment of N500,000 or a 5 year jail term, or both; Article 18 (3) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights; the Conventions on the Rights of the Child and Article 27 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

The statement invited the African Commission to urge the Nigerian Government to fulfill its obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights; and under the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. It further stressed that the essence and true nature of the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Women in Africa must be observed.

“Let us all take part in this campaign to protect the right of the girl child to an education and to reach the age of maturity in a safe and healthy environment irrespective of which part of Nigeria she is birthed,” NFF said.

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