child marriage has of late being an issue in the air waves of sissala land. Many organizations and NGOs have shown their displeasure on the phenomenon. Anyone who is interested in sissala land can confirm to you there are so many write-ups on the said issue of late. But let us face the reality as a people, is this actually happening in the land? Could it not be a pass practice? Are we not mistaking something else for child marriage? What do we mean when we say child marriage? Until these are all well explained we can not have a clear picture of what is going on.
Child marriage can only be well understood if we have a clear understanding of what marriage is and who a child is. According to the UN charter on the rights of children, a child is a person below the age of eighteen (18). Marriage on the other hand is a union between two families, where both agree for a man and woman to live together as husband and wife having met some conditions setup by the institution. We can at this point say child marriage is when a person below the age of eighteen (18),is given the legal backing of the families to be call husband or wife. Marriage must be recognised by both families and society as been legal. Where it is just the concert of the two individuals involved, can not be recognised as marriage. The two may live together, behave as husband and wife but not married.
Can this be said about sissala land? Do families give approval to marriages which are below eighteen? Do they do that willingly or compiled to? It is an obvious fact that parents don't approve of child marriage but are sometimes pushed to the wall. What I think is the real issue here is teenage pregnancy and early sex. The parents only give out their beloved children to marriage when the ugly scene of pregnancy occurs. We need to understand when a child gets pregnant and when she gets married. The two are different.
The practice of child marriage was a popular practice in the early 70s to mid 90s. The practice started losing its significance in the late 90s due to parents desire to educate their children. Thanks to the introduction of child right club, the practice has faded off in the land by 2005. The fact that children are seen on street with babies and pregnancies does not me child marriage.
The horrible practice that needs our attention now is teenage pregnancy and adolescent irresponsible behaviours. Our young sisters who are sent to school to become responsible people end up social misfits. The parade the streets of town practicing hooliganism. Most of them are virtually prostitutes. All these happens against the advise and disciplinary measures instituted by parents. Parents can not therefore be blamed entirely for a child's waywardness. There are actually some parents who do not care about the future of their children. They are however very few in the land. Most parents have embraced education as the greatest gift to their children.
Let us be conscious of how we are painting the land we are from for what ever reason. The fact is that there are already some negative perception about us. Let us not say things that will not give us a positive image, especially when is not true. The sissala land is a land that pride it self of modesty and well behaviour. The unity and peace that prevail in our land is something that is far beyond the imagination of all.
I would like to at this point commend our rulers for their great wisdom. We could not have come this far if not for your wisdom. To all social protection agencies and NGOs who have helped in one way or the other to bring equality to our people I say may God increase you domain.
Author: NANDZO MUMUNI ABRAHAM.
Source : ayamgasfolder. blogspot. competition.
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