REIMAGINE AN AFRICA WITHOUT CHILD MARRIAGE

 REIMAGINE AN AFRICA WITHOUT CHHILD MARRIAGE

AUTHOR: OYUGBO JONAH OSAGIE

A. THREE (3) REASONS WHY CHILD MARRIAGE IS AN URGENT ISSUE IN AFRICA

I. INCREASE IN OUT OF SCHOOL CHILDREN- In Sub-Saharan Africa a staggering 40 percent of girls marry before age 18, and Africa Countries account for 15 of 20 Countries with highest rate of Child marriage. More than 49 million girls are out of Primary and Secondary education, undermining their rights and limiting their opportunities. The Africa Continent cannot develop with this statistics of out of school children and human right violation.

II. HEALTH RISK- Young women who married during their childhood are more likely to experience early Motherhood. Child marriage increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases infections (STIs) HIV, death during childbirth, cervical cancer, obstetric fistulas, premature birth, high fertility, unintended or mistimed pregnancy, and pregnancy termination.

III. VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS- Child marriage is an act of violating the Right of the Child to Life and Education. Child marriage have increase out of school children in Africa. It is an urgent issue to address if Africa wants to a build develop Continent and have Educated Nations. 

B. ROLE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN TAKE UP TOWARDS ENDING CHILD MARRIAGE

I. RAISE AWARENESS- Awareness on effects of Child marriage by engaging local community leaders and religious leaders in addressing the issues, help in empowering the girl Child through education, skill Aquisition for the girl Child, promote educational orientation for parent on effects of Child marriage and employment.

II. SPONSOR CHILD RIGHT ACT IN PARLIAMENT- Young people can encourage laws and policies for the adoption of the Child Right Act in all Africa Nation which should include protection from child marriage and Rights to choice and education.

III. EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT- Youth people can help in promoting the empowerment of the Child with information, skills and support networks, write articles, and enhance girls access to a high quality education.

C. WHAT AFRICA WITHOUT CHILD MARRIAGE WILL LOOK LIKE

I. ECONOMIC BENEFITS- When the Child grows up healthy and educated without any damage to her cognitive and emotional development. She becomes empower and educated to contribute for her Nation by working in Private Sectors, working with the Government or establishing her own Industries, which will leads to high economic returns. She becomes empowered to empower the next Generation of Africa Nation.

II. EDUCATED GENERATION- Educated Generation brings higher productivity, provides households with better educated children, crime reduction, reduced dependency on Government income, and build public good character of the Africa Child. The educated Child grow up to become a productive member of the Africa society.

III. GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS- The Africa without Child marriage will create and maintain an environment that sustains more value creation for its enterprises and more prosperity for its people. High rates of growth will be achieve in gross domestic product (GDP) in many Africa Nation.