SOOK: About 14,999 child marriage cases have been recorded throughout Malaysia where Sabah is ranked among the top three together with Sarawak and Kelantan.
Sabah Democratic Action Party (DAP) Women Chief Clare Taunek said an awareness campaign is important to end child marriage for the future of the children and nation.
She said that child marriage affects all races, ethnicity, religion and gender and that it occurs in other communities, particularly in rural areas.
ADVERTISEMENT
She said this during the Stop Child Marriage Talk campaign, held at SK Nandangan Sook recently.
Taunek said Sabah DAP Women is committed in organising the campaign at all districts.
She said the tentative programme include awareness talks with students and parents and forums between non-governmental organisations (NGO) and government departments.
ADVERTISEMENT
There will also be study sessions in selected district based on the high number of child marriage cases, she said.
“Let’s break this tradition and I call upon parents and teachers to join us in making this campaign a success. We want to ensure the future of our children, especially our girls, so that they can have better future for themselves.
“Many in our society are still lack of awareness that children under the age of 18 have the right to education and to marry them off is a crime,” she said.
She, meanwhile, commended the school community’s efforts in raising motivated pupils.
Also present at the event were school principal Puan Safiah, PIBG head Puan Suana, village chief KK Raulin, teachers, parents and pupils.
_ENG.jpg)
