Inadequate resources derail child marriages fight -CSO

A civil society organisation working to end child marriages is citing lack of adequate resources as one factor derailing efforts in ending child marriages in the country.

“Since we started working on the child marriage issue, prevalence rate was around 50% but now, we have moved to 37% or 38% thereabout. So, we are making strides but in terms of government commitment and resources, I think we have a long way to go,” said Jennifer Mkandawire who is the national coordinator for Girls Not Bride.

“With collaboration and awareness on existing laws as well as having positive parenting by parents and communities we will be there. But as stakeholders working on this issue, we just need to pull our socks up to make sure that every child is accommodated especially in hard-to-reach areas where information is very scarce,” Mkandawire added.

However, Mkandawire is optimistic that the country will end child marriages if all stakeholders collaborate with each other.

According to UNICEF, Malawi has one of the highest rates of child marriages in the world, with approximately 42 percent of girls married before the age of 18, and 9 percent below the age of 15.

Over the years there have been interventions made to address trend which has decreased the percent of girls being marries off to 37 percent.

However, there are concerns on the pace at which the interventions are being implemented largely due to lack of funding and budgetary support from the government side.

Created in 2012, Girls Not Brides Malawi is a coalition of over 90 CSOs working to end child marriages in the country Malawi.