Press information

All against child and forced marriages!

On the 7th of March, in advance for celebrating of International Women’s Day 2007, the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and medica mondiale e.V. are encouraging both men and women to register their marriage and help make Afghanistan safe and secure.

Background

The registration of marriage is mandated by Article 61 of the Civil Code of Afghanistan. However, the practice of registering marriages appears to be sporadic in the country. This may be due to lack of enforcement of the law by the relevant government institutions as well as lack of awareness by the population as to why they should register their marriages. This results in child and forced marriages among other harmful practices that may lead to negative health, legal, educational and other social problems.

What has been done already

medica mondiale, an international women’s non-governmental organization conducted a pre-campaign survey in Kabul province. The findings and analysis show that the registration of marriage is accepted by the Afghan people. The findings demonstrate that medica mondiale’s concern about the need for a registration of marriage campaign is timely and that the support being provided by the Supreme Court of Afghanistan to is not misplaced.

medica mondiale now is launching an preliminary campaign together with Supreme Court and Ministry of Women’s Affairs on this topic. The campaign “Registration of marriage: A step towards eliminating child and forced marriages” was conducted in collaboration with the Supreme Court of Afghanistan and followed two previous activities with the Supreme Court. These activities were a three-day conference on “The Role of the Judiciary in Safeguarding Women’s Rights” (May 2005) and a One-day Workshop on “The Registration of Marriage: A step towards Justice for Women” (October 2005). In December 2006, 35 judges of different courts participated in a six days training on the registration of marriage and will receive certificates as an acknowledgement for their participation in this workshop.

The Ministry of Women’s Affairs produced as an essential part of the campaign six radio- and one TV-spots to reach men and women all over Afghanistan through the mass media. This kind of approach is vital for reaching all men and women, regardless of their education.

Additionally, different posters, a brochure, a survey report and a legal marriage booklet on the benefits of a legal marriage was produced by medica mondiale 2004 with financial support of USAID and reprinted in 2007 with the kind financial support of European Commission will be presented to the public.

Bullet points:
 

• Objectives of the Registration of Marriage Project:
• To contribute to the elimination of child and forced marriage through promoting the registration of legal marriage
• To launch a public awareness pilot campaign promoting the benefits of the registration of marriage in Afghanistan
• To increase awareness among Afghan women and men of their legal rights, the rights of their children and the importance of consent to marriage

1. Benefits of the registration of marriage for men and women
   When asked if women should register their marriages – 97 percent of women and 64 percent of men said that yes, they should as this would help them to solve their problems easily through the Supreme Court and that their rights will be better considered. Men said that the benefit would be to help them solve problems easily and enable them to obtain a passport and travel abroad more easily. Additionally, they would be able to solve inheritance problems more easily.
2. Harmful traditional practices that can be reduced through registering marriages
   In answer to this question, 94 percent of female respondents and 90 percent of males said that BAD, BADAL and child marriages and forced marriages can be reduced and eliminated by registering marriages.
3. Ensure social security and fabric
   The Ministry of Women’ Affairs believes that marriage is an Islamic, legal and social institution that should be formally registered in court. MOWA is asking the people of Afghanistan to register their marriages and support Affairs in endorsing the registration of marriage as a way to ensure the social security and fabric.
4. Usefulness of a public awareness campaign on the registration of marriage
   All respondents of mm’s pre campaign survey said that they would warmly welcome the immediate launch of a campaign in every province of the country because it is a security guarantee and life program for both males and females.

The meeting will be held at Sufi Landmark Hotel at the 7th of March 2007, from 9.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.

Please contact Selin Çalışkan in Kabul to announce your participation and make further arrangements for interviews etc.:

Selmin Çalışkan
Phone: 0093 (0) 7981 604555

 

 

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Advanced inquiries and arrangement of interviews:
medica mondiale e.V.
Stephani Streloke
(Press and Public Relations)
Hülchrather Straße 4
50670 Köln/Cologne (Germany)
Tel.: +49/221-93 18 98-0/-25
Fax: +49/221-93 18 98-1

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