A launching event of Plan International Asia Regional Hub research reports on accelerating efforts to eliminate Child, Early and Forced Marriage in Asia in collaboration with UNFPA took place on December 3 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Photo: Plan International Asia

As representatives of Vietnamese children, especially ethnic minorities, Huu and Tuoi from Quang Tri participated in the event with other youths from all across Asia to voice up about the early marriage issue.

In many countries, the minimum age for marriage, particularly for marriages with parental consent, is lower for girls than boys. In some countries, girls can be married 3 to 4 years younger than boys.

These laws illustrate the normative perception and expectation that girls should marry earlier than boys and that girls are tied by their domestic role, with lower expectations for women’s roles outside the home (in communities where these laws are enforced).

Child marriage is driven by a plethora of complex, dynamic and inter-related factors that vary from country to country. These factors intersect to rob many girls of their childhood, their right to go to school, and their chance to determine and secure their own future.

It is only through joint efforts that we can put an end to early child marriage in Asia and secure a better future for girls.

"My friends and I hope that we have knowledge of early marriage so none of us will become the victim. I also hope that Plan International, the community and schools will provide us with educational materials, so that we could gain proper knowledge and contribute to prevent child marriage in Vietnam", Huu expressed at the meeting./.

VNF