Ain o Salish Kendra expresses serious concern about the Law Ministry’s judgment to keep a special provision regarding age of marriage for girls in the draft of Child Marriage Restraint Act 2014.

According to media reports, the draft Act proposes that a 16-years old girl marrying a man aged 21 or more will not be considered a child marriage if the marriage happens in special circumstances; if the parents or guardians give consent or if a court order is obtained.  

On 15 September 2014 the draft of ‘Child Marriage Restraint Act 2014’ was approved at the cabinet meeting. At that meeting, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and others concerned were directed to review whether the minimum age of marriage for boys could be lowered from 21 to 18 and that of girls from 18 to 16.

Ain o Salish Kendra thinks that the age of marriage mentioned in the special provision of Child Marriage Restraint Act 2014 contradicts many existing national and international laws. It is also inconsistent with the ability of girls to carry out the duties of conjugal life, considering the country’s socio-economic condition.

Ain o Salish Kendra on many occasions expressed concern over how lowering the age of marriage for girls to 16 can increase the risk of higher rate of child marriage. This can also lead to different health risks for women, and obstacles to continuing studies and becoming self-reliant.

We have put forward the demand to the government to take necessary measures in this regard. We think, there is a greater risk that the special provision to allow girls to marry at the age of 16 will be abused and in that situation, women will never be able to take control of their own lives by freeing themselves from the clutches of men.

We strongly demand to the government for taking effective and visible steps to refrain from enacting such an inconsistent and contradictory law.