Underage marriage in special cases to create obstacles
UNB
Voicing concern over the special provision in the Child Marriage Restraint Act that allows underage marriage in special cases, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Kazi Reazul Hoque yesterday said it will create an obstacle to controlling to child marriage despite the governments efforts, reports UNB.
Addressing a national conference on the follow-up of the Regional Action Plan to Combat Child Marriage as the chief guest, he also underscored the need for formulating rules for implementing the act in such a way so that maximum interests of children are protected.
As the law has already been formulated, we have to work maintaining coordination to protect the maximum interests of children, the NHRC chief said.
NHRC and National Action and Coordinating Group (NACG) of South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC) organised the programme at the Cirdap auditorium in the capital.
As the National Human Rights Commission Act has empowered the NHRC to put forward suggestions over formulating HR-related laws, the NHRC will send recommendations to the Women and Children Affairs Ministry in consultations with government and non-government organisations to protect child rights, Reazul said. Speakers at the conference called upon the member states of Saarc to work unitedly to free South Asia from the curse of child marriage.
Joint Secretary to the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry Moinul Kabir, Additional Secretary to the Women and Children Affairs Ministry Mashuk Mia and Purna Shresta of the Centre for Reproductive Rights Nepal, among others, spoke on the occasion.
