House of Representatives pushes for Child Rights Act enforcement to end child marriage in Nigeria
The House of Representatives called for enforcement of Nigeria's Child Rights Act, 2003 which sets 18 as the minimum marriage age, during Thursday's plenary session commemorating International Day of the Girl Child. The motion 'End Child Marriage and Invest in the Girl Child,' sponsored by Women Affairs Committee Chairman Kafilat Ogbara, highlighted child marriage as a human rights, public health, educational and socioeconomic challenge that deprives girls of childhood, limits education and economic opportunities while exposing them to early pregnancy, maternal complications, gender-based violence and poverty.
The House urged the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to work with Education, Health, Social Welfare and Justice ministries to strengthen prevention programs and protect girls at risk. It also mandated committees on Women Affairs, Education, Health, Human Rights and Justice to assess existing interventions, identify implementation gaps and recommend legislative and budgetary measures within four weeks to address social and economic factors driving early marriage while improving girls' access to essential services.
With child marriage disproportionately affecting girls in vulnerable communities and undermining their potential to contribute to national development, will you support community-based programs that keep girls in school and delay marriage, or advocate for stronger enforcement of existing laws protecting children's rights?