‘It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.’
Doubtless, as foot soldiers in the protracted war against child marriages, we too continue to face fierce battles, discouraging statistics, and stubborn cultural and religious practices. We are confronted, daily, by entrenched norms that resist change, communities where the cries of young girls are often drowned out by tradition, and by systems that are slow to adapt and effect the change that we want in our region. Yet, it is precisely in these circumstances that Roosevelt's words resonate with profound significance. He exhorted us to embody courage and resilience, to step forward even when the path is fraught with challenges, and to embrace the noble pursuit of our goals with relentless passion. We, who are in the arena, who have chosen to confront these injustices head-on, must continue to strive valiantly, knowing that every effort, every small victory, and even every setback brings us closer to the triumph of high achievement. Needless to state, the zenith of our achievement is a child who lives without fear of betrothal, whose innocence and potential are safeguarded by a robust justice system capable of protecting those ensnared by the shackles of undue marriages. It is a future where SADC member states not only recognize but actively promote and protect the rights of children, ensuring that their futures are bright, secure, and full of promise. This vision is not merely an ideal but a necessity, for the future of our children is inextricably linked to the future of the SADC region. It is undisputable that when we empower our children, we empower our nations and when we protect their rights, we secure our collective destiny.
I therefore cannot overemphasize that this conversation could not have come at a more opportune time. Indeed, we stand at a critical juncture, where our actions today will shape the future for generations to come. In that light, I must commend the conveners of this crucial dialogue for their foresight in bringing us together to address this pressing issue. This platform provides us with an invaluable opportunity to take stock of the progress that has been made thus far in the implementation of the SADC Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriages and Protecting those Already in Marriage. It also challenges us to identify gaps, renew our commitment, and strategize on how we can accelerate our efforts to end child marriages once and for all.
Honourable Members, Ladies and Gentlemen;
You may be aware that globally, an estimated 640 million girls and women alive today were married in childhood, with 12 million girls becoming child brides every year. These staggering numbers paint a sobering picture of the scale of this violation of human rights. Sub-Saharan Africa is second to Asia with 20% of child brides. Contextually, 1 in every 5 girls was betrothed or forced into marriage before the age of 18. The vulnerabilities of these girls was and remains exacerbated by poverty, conflict, and limited access to education and healthcare (UNICEF 2023). Ladies and Gentlemen, these statistics are not just numbers but a representation of millions of young girls whose futures are compromised, whose education is cut short, and whose health and well-being are jeopardized. Each percentage point reflects a community where girls are deprived of their childhood, forced into roles they are not ready for, and often subjected to a lifetime of inequality and abuse.
BUT IT IS TIME TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE!
Honourable Members, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Long gone are those days when we focused solely on the gloomy statistics, like those I presented above. While these numbers are undeniably alarming, you may agree with me that such an approach often overshadows the remarkable strides we have made in combating this scourge. Indeed, it is essential to acknowledge the challenges, but it is equally important to celebrate the progress and victories that have been achieved through our collective efforts. In recent years, we witnessed a growing momentum in the fight against child marriages across the globe. In our region, specifically, legislative reforms have been enacted in many countries, raising the minimum age of marriage and closing loopholes that previously allowed child marriages to persist. Countries such as Zimbabwe, Zambia and Seychelles, to mention only a few enacted laws that criminalise child marriages. In some instances, the law has gone to criminalise all the parties that solemnize such unions.
Additionally, I cannot overstate the crucial role of grassroots movements, led by courageous survivors and advocates, in bringing the issue to the forefront of public consciousness. This, invariably challenged harmful traditions and promoted the rights of girls. Similarly, international organisations and partnerships which were forged brought together various state and non-state actors, to implement comprehensive programs that address the root causes of child marriage, such as poverty, lack of education, and gender inequality. More importantly for the Forum, these symbiotic relationships provided critical resources, technical expertise, and advocacy support, all of which significantly bolstered efforts in implementing and monitoring the implementation of the Model Law on Child Marriages.
Furthermore, we are seeing more girls staying in school, delaying marriage, and gaining the knowledge and skills they need to build brighter futures for themselves and their families. Community leaders and religious figures, who once upheld the practice, are now becoming champions for change, advocating for the protection of girls and the promotion of the inalienable rights of children. Essentially, these positive developments are not isolated incidents but are part of a broader, transformative movement that is gaining strength across the SADC region. More specifically, you may be aware that;
- Tanzania, for example, made notable progress in reducing child marriage rates. The Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS) revealed that 37% of women aged 20-24 were married before 18, down from 41% in 2004, marking a 4% decline over the past decade.
- 38% of SADC countries established 18 as the legal age of majority with no exceptions.
- Mozambique enacted the Law on the Prevention and Combatting of Premature Unions which was anchored on the Model Law.
- Malawi amended its Constitution in 2017 to remove a provision that previously allowed parents to consent to marriage of children under 18. This, essentially, harmonized the Constitution with the Marriages, Death and Family Act of 2015 which already prohibited child marriages. Moreso, traditional leaders have taken a lead in championing the rights of children including annulling child marriages solemnised within their jurisdiction.
- In South Africa, the Department of Basic Education integrated Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) into the mandatory Life Orientation curriculum for both primary and secondary schools; a crucial step in curbing child marriages by equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about their health and relationships, thereby reducing the vulnerability of children to early and forced marriages.
- Zimbabwe, in 2022, took a significant step in protecting children by enacting a new Marriage Act that strictly prohibits marriages under the age of 18, including in customary unions, whether registered or not. The Act further imposes imprisonment penalties for violations.
All these achievements are poignant reminders that our tireless exertions are not in vain. Each success, no matter how small, quintessentially embodies the power of collective action, personifies the commitment of those who refuse to accept the status quo and epitomises the audacity of those who dare to dream of a just and free world for our young girls. Therefore, the Model Law must remain our north star, guiding our efforts and providing a comprehensive framework that aligns national legislation with the highest standards of child protection. Patently, the Model Law has inspired legal reforms, empowered communities, and catalyzed the creation of policies that prioritize the rights and well-being of children. It has also provided a benchmark for monitoring progress and holding governments accountable, ensuring that the promises made to our children are not just words on paper but effectuated into meaningful change. To that an extent, as we continue to implement and adapt the Model Law to meet the unique challenges of our respective countries, it is crucial that we remain vigilant and proactive, ensuring that this guiding light continues to illuminate our path towards a future free from child marriage.
However, and crucially, we must absolve ourselves from the temptation of treating the Model Law as a static document. In fact, we are enjoined to conjure a critical spirit that will remind us, time and again, that it is a living, evolving tool that must be actively applied, monitored, and reinforced. As we embrace that spirit, the Model Law will become a powerful aide-memoire that with the right strategies, adequate resources, and collective will, we can overcome the deeply entrenched practices that threaten the futures of our children and the region.
Honourable Members, Ladies and Gentlemen;
Going forward, our focus must shift towards sustaining and scaling up these successes to ensure that they do not remain as isolated cases but form part of the broader societal and regional transformation agenda. That is why the Forum associates with the assiduous Vision as espoused in the Theory of Change of Girls not Brides which is ‘A World Without Child Marriage where Girls can Exercise their Rights and Achieve their Potential.’ To achieve this, it is needless to state that we ought to depart, and urgently so, from the long and winding road of endless dialogues that often remain as that, DIALOGUES! We must detour into the narrow road of swift action both on the legislative and policy frontiers as well as enhanced visibility on the ground. This must be anchored on strengthened collaboration between state and non-state actors, creating synergies that have the limitless potential to propel progress across the region. Simultaneously, civil society organizations, community leaders, and grassroots movements must continue their advocacy efforts, working closely with local communities to challenge harmful norms and empower girls with education and opportunities. It would be remiss of me to exclude the private sector, which has a critical role to play, through a deliberate investment in programs that promote gender equality and economic empowerment.
Moreover, effective monitoring and evaluation systems and frameworks are the sine-qua-non to measuring our progress and learning from both successes and setbacks. These systems and frameworks must be augmented by sound international cooperation agreements and knowledge sharing platforms. Undeniably, in this knowledge-driven economy, our region stands to benefit from the experiential realities of other countries and regions that have made significant strides in combating child marriage.
Finally, without sufficient resources, even the most well-intentioned laws, policies, and programs will fall short of achieving their goals. To that end, national Parliaments, in discharging their budgetary role, must prioritize budget allocations towards initiatives that directly address the root causes of child marriage, such as poverty alleviation, education, and healthcare. This must extend to funding for the implementation and enforcement of legal frameworks, support services for survivors, and community-based interventions aimed at prevention.
Honourable Members, Ladies and Gentlemen;
As I conclude, let me remind you that YES, WE CAN eradicate child marriages. YES, WE CAN enact legislative and policy frameworks that protect those already in marriage. But let us not allow "YES WE CAN" to be just three words; it should be our rallying cry, our hashtag in modern social media lingo, our movement. It must embody the and fuel our collective efforts. We are therefore enjoined to educate and inspire everyone with its meaning:
- Y – YOUTH; Youth are the future of our region, and they are indispensable stakeholders in the fight against child marriages. Their voices, energy, and innovation are critical to shaping a child-marriage-free future.
- E – EMPOWERMENT; Empowerment is the foundation upon which strength and resilience are built. Therefore, our young girls and women must be empowered, physically, mentally, and financially to effectively combat child marriages.
- S – SUSTAINABILITY AND SCALABILITY; Lasting change requires solutions that can grow and endure. Thus, any intervention we implement must be sustainable, scalable, and adaptable across different jurisdictions in our region.
- W – WILLINGNESS; The journey towards our vision will be challenging, but our collective mettle will see us through even the most turbulent times.
- E – ENGAGEMENT; The success we seek will be the result of continuous and meaningful engagements with a diverse array of stakeholders. In that regard, every conversation, and partnership moves us closer to our goal.
- C – COLLABORATION; In the wisdom of our forebearers, alone we may go fast, but together, we can harness the collective power that propels us toward shared and consummated prosperity.
- A – ADVOCACY; Advocacy is the catalyst for societal transformation and hence changing mindsets and behaviors requires sustained advocacy at every level, particularly within our communities.
- N – NEGOTIATION; Our objectives will only be realized through thoughtful negotiations with duty-bearers, ensuring that the policies and actions taken are effective and inclusive.
So #YESWECAN must be our battle cry as we continue in our quest to ensure that child marriages are relegated to the annals of our history, where they belong. May I therefore, and once again take this opportunity to extend my deepest gratitude to the conveners of this critical engagement. Your bringing us together today is essential as we build the momentum needed to drive this movement forward. Further, I need not reiterate that the SADC PF continues to open its doors to all stakeholders willing to partner with us in this and other noble endeavours. As the Forum transforms into a Regional Parliament, it will rely heavily on the support and engagement of every stakeholder to ensure that it continues to lead the charge in developing frameworks that will reshape the legislative landscape of the SADC region.
#YESWECAN
I Thank You!!
