Child Marriage Rate drops in Bangladesh

A multimedia campaign on ending child marriage has been launched nationwide by Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday. UNICEF, UNFPA, and Government of Canada are giving the technological and financial support for the campaign.

The campaign involves electronic, print and social media platform like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to promote awareness against child marriage. Mobile text platform will create interaction between the young people and their parents.

Meher Afroz Chumki, state minister of Women and Children Affairs has claimed that the child marriage rate is declining in Bangladesh this year. While child marriage under 15 years old was 22.5% in 2016, this year it is 10.7%.

However,  the drawbacks on child marriage under special cases is not mentioned in the program.But due to this act, child victims might be forced to get married to the rapists.

Edouard Beigbeder, representative of UNICEF Bangladesh has mentioned, ‘Recent evidence from different studies and surveys suggested a sharp downward trend in child marriage where the rates have declined rapidly below 50%’

Hasanul Haq Inu, Information Minister is presented as chief minister. He has said that child marriage is a crime against humanity and since child marriage is still prevailing the society, law implementation is very important.

“Teenagers need to made aware of their sexual health and their rights and the harmful effects of child marriage needs to be spoken about openly.”

A 24/7 helpline with the number 109 has been launched to get help on child marriage issue anytime.