Musawah, a global movement that promotes equality and justice in the Muslim family, recently launched a digital child marriage zine to illustrate how child marriage laws and practices profoundly impact the lives of children.
This was in conjunction with International Day of the Girl-Child on Oct 11.
With beautifully illustrated, colourful drawings, and text that is easy to understand, the e-zine depicts three powerful stories of children – Alma, Hana and Bilal – who fall victim to child marriage practices and provides compelling insights into the urgent need for family law reforms to abolish child marriage.
The e-zine reveals that child marriage – where at least one spouse is under the age of 18 – is harmful to children's health, safety, education, employment and overall well-being; it perpetuates poverty, violence, and discrimination, impeding economic and social development; and much more.
By harnessing the power of art with advocacy, we aim to galvanise efforts worldwide, sparking conversations among the public with the aim to raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 years for boys and girls with no exceptions, says Musawah communications and outreach lead Fatima Qureshi.
According to the e-zine, "older children and youth - although physically developed and mature - are most often forced into marriage under the misconception and societal pressure of economic and financial security."
Unfortunately, the reverse is true. The e-zine states it's been documented that "girls are especially impacted by child marriage in terms of health risks, abuse, lack of power, employment, loss of rights, fertility issues, education, and national as well as global impacts".
Qureshi adds that the e-zine is free for circulation and may be translated and distributed.
More info at: campaignforjustice.musawah.org/resources/child-marriage-zine/
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