Combating Child Marriage and Harmful Practices in Eritrea

 
Ending Child Marriage and Harmful
Traditional Practices from Eritrea
 
September 7-11, 2015
Radisson BLU Hotel,
Lusaka, Zambia
 
Content of Presentation
 
Eritrea Country profile
Regional and International conventions on Child
Rights;
International & National legal Instruments
Customary Laws
Traditional Practices
The status of Child Marriage & FGM/C in Eritrea;
The approaches used to combat child marriage &
FGM/C prevention and control and
The progress made
Challenges and the way forward;
 
Eritrea Country Profile
 
Located in the Horn of Africa
Located in the Horn of Africa
 Area = 124,000 sq.km
 Area = 124,000 sq.km
 Pop = 3.5 million
 Pop = 3.5 million
Literacy rate: 68.5%
Literacy rate: 68.5%
 6 Admin Regions (Zobas)
 6 Admin Regions (Zobas)
 Borders with Djibouti,
 Borders with Djibouti,
Ethiopia, Sudan and the Red
Ethiopia, Sudan and the Red
Sea.
Sea.
 Independence in 1991
 Independence in 1991
Mountainous arid & terrain
Mountainous arid & terrain
Prone to natural hazards
Prone to natural hazards
Low income country
Low income country
 
 
Regional and International
conventions on Child Rights
 
The Government of the state of Eritrea has been
committed to promote & protect the rights and welfare
of children; and
Eritrea has signed & ratified the African Charter on the
Rights & Welfare of the Child 
(ACRWC) 
in 2000;
submitted its consolidated report which covers the
entire 2002-2013 period.
Has signed & ratified the UN convention on the Rights
of Child 
(CRC) 
since 1994; and
Eritrea is signatory to several international conventions
that enhance the respect & safeguard the broad, &
specific principles of human rights.
 
National Legal Instruments (ERITREA)
 
The Eritrean Civil Code (article 581 and 329)
mentions that marriageability age is attainment
of 18 years.
Proclamation No. 1/1991 of the GoSE specifies
that any contract of marriage made between
persons (spouses) below 18 years of age is null
void, and that the spouses and witnesses to such
marriage shall be 
punishable under the penal
Code (Art.614); 
and 
article 158/2007 to
abandonee FGM/C.
 
National legal Instruments (ERITREA)
 
Art. 607. age.- 1. Criminal sanction
(1) An officer of civil status or authority having
celebrated the marriage of a woman under
eighteen years of age or a man under eighteen
years of age shall be liable to the punishment
provided in the penal code if he knew or should
have known such circumstances.
(2) The bride groom or the bride who is under
eighteen years of age, the persons who have
consented to the marriage and the witness shall
be liable to the punishment provided in the penal
code.
 
Customary Laws (ERITREA)
 
Most customary laws determine marriagability
age through consensus of community elders;
while the unwritten customary laws determined
such ages according to 
physical maturity, cultural
ceremonies and participation in economic
activities;
Most customary laws do not, however,
specifically state the minimum age for marriage
and other marital relationships;
 
Traditional Practices (ERITREA)
 
Early marriage is associated with the deeply
rooted traditional practices, because some
parents believe that early marriage provides
girls a better marriage opportunity;
Female early marriage is traditional practice
intending to protect female adolescents from
engaging in premarital sex (virginity), which  is
perceived a crucial factor for a better marriage
opportunity and family stability;
 
Child Marriage in Eritrea
 
Child marriage is a problem in Eritrea, and
marriage occurs relatively earlier for girls.
The EPHS 2010 indicates that among women
aged 20-24: 
13 percent 
were married by
age 15
, and 
41 
percent 
were married
by 
age 18 
(EPHS 2010).
 
Child Marriage in Eritrea
 
Not all girls face proportionately the same risk
of becoming child brides within the Eritrean
society.
The rate of child marriage happens 
more in
rural; less educated and lower wealth
quintiles 
compared to urban, educated and
high wealth quintiles respectively.
 
 
The m
The m
edian age at first marriage for women age 30-49
by area & 
Geographical Location (EPHS 2010)
Geographical Location (EPHS 2010)
Towns 19 yrs
Rural  17 yrs
Zoba Debub
Age 16 yrs
Zoba
Makael
21 yrs
 
Education background, & Wealth
Quintile
 
Child Marriage in Eritrea
 
Early marriage affects girl’s survival and
development to their full potential; as well as
deprive their rights to education.
In Eritrea, early marriage is also the main
reason for dropping out of school, where
(69% of girls 
and 
39% of boys) 
age 
15-29
who ever attended school were 
dropped out
of school 
(EPHS 2010).
 
Trends in Prevalence of Female Circumcision
 
Percent of women age 15-49 circumcised
 
Note: Data for 2002 is recalculated using WHO reference standard to be comparable to 2010 data.
 
Daughters Circumcision on U5 & U15
 
Percentage circumcised
 
 
Reason For Not Circumcising Daughter
 
Percent of women
 
Trends of Practice of Female Circumcision
Should Be Discontinued
 
Percent of women age 15-49
 
 
Practice of Female Circumcision Should Be
Discontinued By Age
 
Percent of women
Eritrea total
82%
 
Early Marriage Prevention Program
 
Successful early marriage prevention approach should
be collaborative approached by the teens, their
families, teachers, health professionals, child
protection Orgs, & Faith Based Orgs. communities,
lawmakers, & law enforcing bodies, & other
community organizations.
The approach to this intervention is to strongly
advocate the government authorities, religious leaders,
community associations and law enforcement
authorities to enforce the law; as well as to work to
end child marriage;
 
Intervention To End Child Marriage
 
The MoLHW has been organizing  training workshops
to its social workers who are stationed at sub regional
levels, and also organized 
Child Well-being Committee
CWC & Anti FGM/C 
whose main purpose is to expedite
the implementation of the CRC and the African Charter
on the Rights & Welfare of the Child (ACRWC);
Members of the CWC are organized at sub-Regional
level, & consists of  MoLHW, MOJ, MOH, MOE, MOI,
MoLG, Police, NUEW, NUEYS and 2 (14-17 yrs) teen
agers; so far there are 42/53 CWC formed in the
country.
 The priority activities of the CWC committee are to
expedite Zero tolerance to FGM & pursue anti early
marriage campaigns, and to abundon  other Harmful
Traditional Practices;
 
Outcome of interventions
 
The Chile Wellbeing  Committee measures the
Knowledge, attitude and Practices (KAP) and
other indicators of the communities in that
village, and if the village is ready to declare based
on the outcome of the study, them the village will
declare that their village is HTP Free village;
So far 10 villages has declared as 
HTP FREE
villages, and more than 20 villages are ready and
the CWC is in the process of measuring the
indicators;
 
Challenges
 
Working on traditional practices, takes time,
because It requires strong attitudinal behavior
change in families, communities and opinion
leaders including religious leaders; it is also
difficult to follow the practice, as it can also be
performed secretly;
Updated data on early marriage  is required to
measure progress;
Strong coordination on national actors at regional
and sub-regional is crucial;
More funding to proceed the campaign of FGM/C
and Anti-early marriage practice is required;
 
On Conclusions….
 
In spite of the challenges, the GoSE is
committed to pursue not only to campaign
against the HTP, but to work vigorously
towards the abandonment of all the harmful
practices;
We are also pleased to be part of this training
session organized by the AU, as we can learn
more from sister countries and the AU
experts;
 
Demhina
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The presentation focuses on Eritrea's efforts to end child marriage and harmful traditional practices, detailing the country's profile, legal instruments, and progress made in combating these issues. It highlights Eritrea's commitment to international conventions on child rights, including the African Charter and the UN Convention. The country's legal framework sets the marriage age at 18, with penalties for those involved in underage marriages. The content discusses challenges and future strategies in addressing child marriage and FGM/C in Eritrea.


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  1. Ending Child Marriage and Harmful Traditional Practices from Eritrea September 7-11, 2015 Radisson BLU Hotel, Lusaka, Zambia

  2. Content of Presentation Eritrea Country profile Regional and International conventions on Child Rights; International & National legal Instruments Customary Laws Traditional Practices The status of Child Marriage & FGM/C in Eritrea; The approaches used to combat child marriage & FGM/C prevention and control and The progress made Challenges and the way forward;

  3. Eritrea Country Profile Located in the Horn of Africa Area = 124,000 sq.km Pop = 3.5 million Literacy rate: 68.5% 6 Admin Regions (Zobas) Borders with Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan and the Red Sea. Independence in 1991 Mountainous arid & terrain Prone to natural hazards Low income country

  4. Regional and International conventions on Child Rights The Government of the state of Eritrea has been committed to promote & protect the rights and welfare of children; and Eritrea has signed & ratified the African Charter on the Rights & Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) in 2000; submitted its consolidated report which covers the entire 2002-2013 period. Has signed & ratified the UN convention on the Rights of Child (CRC) since 1994; and Eritrea is signatory to several international conventions that enhance the respect & safeguard the broad, & specific principles of human rights.

  5. National Legal Instruments (ERITREA) The Eritrean Civil Code (article 581 and 329) mentions that marriageability age is attainment of 18 years. Proclamation No. 1/1991 of the GoSE specifies that any contract of marriage made between persons (spouses) below 18 years of age is null void, and that the spouses and witnesses to such marriage shall be punishable under the penal Code (Art.614); and article 158/2007 to abandonee FGM/C.

  6. National legal Instruments (ERITREA) Art. 607. age.- 1. Criminal sanction (1) An officer of civil status or authority having celebrated the marriage of a woman under eighteen years of age or a man under eighteen years of age shall be liable to the punishment provided in the penal code if he knew or should have known such circumstances. (2) The bride groom or the bride who is under eighteen years of age, the persons who have consented to the marriage and the witness shall be liable to the punishment provided in the penal code.

  7. Customary Laws (ERITREA) Most customary laws determine marriagability age through consensus of community elders; while the unwritten customary laws determined such ages according to physical maturity, cultural ceremonies and participation in economic activities; Most customary laws do not, however, specifically state the minimum age for marriage and other marital relationships;

  8. Traditional Practices (ERITREA) Early marriage is associated with the deeply rooted traditional practices, because some parents believe that early marriage provides girls a better marriage opportunity; Female early marriage is traditional practice intending to protect female adolescents from engaging in premarital sex (virginity), which is perceived a crucial factor for a better marriage opportunity and family stability;

  9. Child Marriage in Eritrea Child marriage is a problem in Eritrea, and marriage occurs relatively earlier for girls. The EPHS 2010 indicates that among women aged 20-24: 13 percent were married by age 15, and 41 percent were married by age 18 (EPHS 2010).

  10. Child Marriage in Eritrea Not all girls face proportionately the same risk of becoming child brides within the Eritrean society. The rate of child marriage happens more in rural; less educated and lower wealth quintiles compared to urban, educated and high wealth quintiles respectively.

  11. The median age at first marriage for women age 30-49 by area & Geographical Location (EPHS 2010) Towns 19 yrs Rural 17 yrs 22Asmara yrs Zoba Makael 21 yrs Zoba Debub Age 16 yrs

  12. Education background, & Wealth Quintile Background Median Age at First Marriage 25 years , 5 years higher than the median age of women with middle 20 years Secondary education Middle level Education No Education Higher wealth Q lowest wealth quintile 17 years, 21 years 17 years (4yrs younger than highest wealth quintile ;

  13. Child Marriage in Eritrea Early marriage affects girl s survival and development to their full potential; as well as deprive their rights to education. In Eritrea, early marriage is also the main reason for dropping out of school, where (69% of girls and 39% of boys) age 15-29 who ever attended school were dropped out of school (EPHS 2010).

  14. Trends in Prevalence of Female Circumcision Percent of women age 15-49 circumcised 95 89 83 1995EDHS 2002EDHS 2010EPHS+ Note: Data for 2002 is recalculated using WHO reference standard to be comparable to 2010 data.

  15. Daughters Circumcision on U5 & U15 Percentage circumcised Under 15 Under 5 37 33 25 17 15 12 7 4 Total Urban Rural Asmara

  16. Reason For Not Circumcising Daughter Percent of women 66.9 8 5.5 4.1 1.5 1 Against Religion No female circumciser Against culture Family no longer practice Too young Against low

  17. Trends of Practice of Female Circumcision Should Be Discontinued Percent of women age 15-49 82 49 38 1995EDHS 2002EDHS 2010EPHS+

  18. Practice of Female Circumcision Should Be Discontinued By Age Percent of women Eritrea total 82% 86 85 84 81 80 77 75 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49

  19. Early Marriage Prevention Program Successful early marriage prevention approach should be collaborative approached by the teens, their families, teachers, health professionals, child protection Orgs, & Faith Based Orgs. communities, lawmakers, & law enforcing bodies, & other community organizations. The approach to this intervention is to strongly advocate the government authorities, religious leaders, community associations and law enforcement authorities to enforce the law; as well as to work to end child marriage;

  20. Intervention To End Child Marriage The MoLHW has been organizing training workshops to its social workers who are stationed at sub regional levels, and also organized Child Well-being Committee CWC & Anti FGM/C whose main purpose is to expedite the implementation of the CRC and the African Charter on the Rights & Welfare of the Child (ACRWC); Members of the CWC are organized at sub-Regional level, & consists of MoLHW, MOJ, MOH, MOE, MOI, MoLG, Police, NUEW, NUEYS and 2 (14-17 yrs) teen agers; so far there are 42/53 CWC formed in the country. The priority activities of the CWC committee are to expedite Zero tolerance to FGM & pursue anti early marriage campaigns, and to abundon other Harmful Traditional Practices;

  21. Outcome of interventions The Chile Wellbeing Committee measures the Knowledge, attitude and Practices (KAP) and other indicators of the communities in that village, and if the village is ready to declare based on the outcome of the study, them the village will declare that their village is HTP Free village; So far 10 villages has declared as HTP FREE villages, and more than 20 villages are ready and the CWC is in the process of measuring the indicators;

  22. Challenges Working on traditional practices, takes time, because It requires strong attitudinal behavior change in families, communities and opinion leaders including religious leaders; it is also difficult to follow the practice, as it can also be performed secretly; Updated data on early marriage is required to measure progress; Strong coordination on national actors at regional and sub-regional is crucial; More funding to proceed the campaign of FGM/C and Anti-early marriage practice is required;

  23. On Conclusions. In spite of the challenges, the GoSE is committed to pursue not only to campaign against the HTP, but to work vigorously towards the abandonment of all the harmful practices; We are also pleased to be part of this training session organized by the AU, as we can learn more from sister countries and the AU experts;

  24. THANK YOU Demhina

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