For a worthy cause

Mona

Are you aware that even today one in three girls in the developing world are married before they are 18 and one in nine girls amongst them married by the age of 15? It’s not a mere statistic, but a fact that very poignantly points out that millions of girls miss the opportunity to lead a life of education, career and family, and, in that order!

“While I totally understand that the idea of child marriage holds the best of intentions from the family’s side to give a ‘safe’ living to their daughter, but does it pan out as intended?” questions Christopher Gibbins, Consulate General of Canada. Standing in front of a powerful photo-exhibition at the Taj Chandigarh, which speaks of child brides from across the world, he is quick to mention that the idea behind this programme undertaken by the Canadian government is not to be ‘preachy’ but create a mood for discussion on how to make the world the best place for both the genders.

Girls’ Voices: Speaking Out Against Child Marriage is a travelling exhibit in collaboration with some 500 civil society organisations in more than 70 countries. How a ‘wedding’ early in life is linked to problems like poverty and exploitation - physically and emotionally - is what this small exhibition aims to highlight. In Malawi, Zinenani married at the age of 13 to escape poverty, only to be deserted by her husband, who left her with the responsibility to care for two children. Nancy from Kenya got married at 13 and is continually negotiating between her role as a wife and mother to three children, and school curriculum; “My husband claims he married a wife, not a student,” she shares.

“Early marriage poses huge health challenges to girls, who soon become mothers,” points out Christopher. “We are not against marriage, but everything should happen at the right time. It’s not a mere assumption, but worldwide research points out on how raising the standard of living for women culminates in a better society.”

If this exhibition points out at the problems, there are stories of success too. Like that of Laxmi, from our own country, who dared to break the family convention of girls being married at 12 to play netball; and that of Anam from Pakistan who left her abusive husband to study and raise her son. The statistics might be alarming, but, as Christopher points out, it might take some time but eventually child marriage has to stop for larger good, “As long as we are working on grassroots level and taking people along, yes, men too, and, placating the fear that the change intended wouldn’t alter the way of life for worse but better, we are on the right path. Now who could have thought only some decades ago that the right to vote for women would be a reality?”

There are also short stories of men joining hands to fight against child marriage like Qamar Naseem, founder Men Unite, Pakistan and Mkungumbe, a traditional leader in Malawi.

(On at Alliance Francaise, Chandigarh, till March 19)

mona@tribunemail.com