Child brides

I guess I am getting irritated very easily of late. I don't know why but it seems like everything that happened is so non-sensical. As we claimed that we have gone through modernization and moving towards a developed nation, we are still held aback with some very backward ideologies. I have heard lots of blowing trumpets and how we achieved the world class standards in all aspects, we are still but being so ignorant and denying the rights, that the very basic ones of our children.

This news about the debate on the marriage of an eleven-year-old has been on-going for the past few days. Initially I was like, what's new. When the state decided to allow child brides even at such a tender age, all I could do was shaking my head and thought, what's new. Some said we can't question the credibility of certain laws, well, that really sounds like the credibility of certain reserved group of people who dictate what's right and what's not. I dun mean to be insensitive, thus I won't comment further on the law itself, but what I understand from the norm, I am just very concern about these kids who are supposed to be under the protection of the Child's Acts. I mean, what's it for celebrating Children's Day when we don't even respect the rights of the children.

Here is an excerpt from UNICEF regarding Child brides:

According to "Factsheet: Early Marriage" (page 4), a report issued by the United Nations, these early marriage unions violate the basic human rights of these girls by putting them into a life of isolation, service, lack of education, health problems, and abuse.

The UNICEF paper states: "UNICEF believes that, because marriage under the age of 18 may threaten a child's human rights (including the right to education, leisure, good health, freedom of expression, and freedom from discrimination), the best way to ensure the protection of children's rights is to set a minimum age limit of 18 for marriage.

UNICEF is opposed to forced marriages at any age, where the notion of consent is non-existent and the views of bride or groom are ignored, particularly when those involved are under age."

When I read again on this piece of news regarding the eleven-year-old bride today, I couldn't stop myself from saying a word or two. I am utterly disturbed, not because something had happened to this young child that she was found semi-conscious by the road side, or simply because she was the one who convinced and chose to married this 40-year-old man, but I am angry because the parents allowed it as well as the society who said it's okay to be married at tat age. I may sound irony about that, well we have to respect the decision that the child made if we were to respect her rights, but that's not the correct interpretation of human rights for the child! We are grown ups, we are not uneducated people who simply react to any emergency by running away, but we analyze and do the correct procedures. It's really ashamed not being able to see the right picture.

The reason we have children's rights, is so that we can protect them until the age of perhaps either 16 or 18 according to certain countries where at this age is considered to be mature. Not like an 11-year-old and that's like still a kid. Now that something had happened, and everyone is getting the jitters. Later we will see people pointing fingers at each other. Why can't there be a standard protocol for everyone. Why there are so many laws governing so many different people? Can't we find the best solution for everyone of us. I mean, just being sensical, as simple as that. One simple law for one nation.

I am just very concern that if we adult allow laws which is benefiting the adults and not looking at the children's welfare, things will get out of hands and the children that we are producing in the future would be compromised. Aren't children supposed to experience childhood. We have our childhood and they deserve theirs too. Give them a chance rather than stealing their childhood away and forcing them to mature too fast.

Let's think a while...