The Commission on Human Rights strongly supports the immediate passage of a legislation to end child marriage in the country.
Marriage before the age of 18 is a fundamental violation of the rights of a child that impacts every aspect of a child’s dignity and life. In the Philippines and around the world, child marriage affects both girls and boys, both in urban and rural areas. Early marriage halts their ability to realise a wide range of human rights as it denies them of their childhood, disrupts their education, increases the risk of violence, jeopardises their health and safety, and limits full participation in public life.
Several factors place a child at risk of early marriage including poverty, customary or religious laws, conflicts, and other cultural and social norms. According to UNICEF in 2017, 15% of Filipino girls are married before their 18th birthday and 2% are married before the age of 15.
It is high time that we pass a robust legislative framework geared toward protecting children from the harmful practices of child marriage. Every individual girl and boy should not be robbed of their freedom to make meaningful decisions about their marriage, sexual health, safety and wellbeing, especially at an age when they are not yet physically, emotionally, psychologically, and financially ready.
The Philippine Government, in signing and ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), must always adopt the principles “best interests of the child” and “ensuring that no one is left behind”. CRC sets a minimum age of marriage of 18 while CEDAW obligates states to ensure free and full consent to marriage.
In addition to passing the law and ensuring enforcement, the Commission believes that ending child marriage will require long-term, sustainable action across many different sectors in our society. The government should also develop programs to prevent child marriages such as empowering young people with information and support networks, while engaging and educating parents and community members about the negative effects of child marriage. ###