A CEBU-BASED non-government organization is supporting a Senate bill that prohibits child marriages in the country.
Members of Zonta Club of Cebu said they support Senate Bill No. 1373 or the “Girls Not Brides Act” authored by Sen. Risa Hontiveros.
The group stated their support during a June 5 webinar where Hontiveros was a guest speaker.
In her introductory speech, lawyer Mae Elaine Bathan said the freedom of choice is part of the fundamental rights of every Filipino, and does not exempt girls.
Bathan highlighted some of the public’s sentiments on the “Girls not Brides Bill” showing the lack of awareness on this subject.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) stated that ten million child marriages may occur before the end of the decade.
According to Unicef’s statistics, the Philippines was ranked 12th in the world with the prevalence of child marriage in the same organization.
Although the Philippines is a signatory to international laws that prevents child brides, the country’s laws lack in protecting girls, according to Hontiveros.
Hontiveros said girls that are forced to marry in an early age is a “tragic reality” due to their economic circumstances, cultural expectations and outdated beliefs and norms.
She appealed to all advocates to help young girls in the country to not become victims.
As part of the vision of Zonta Club of Cebu II to educate every citizen of the importance of this bill, President Cristina “Petite” Garcia pledged to remain supportive of the campaign to end child marriages, and emphasized that “social change cannot succeed without community engagement.” (Merry Melle Aguilar & Nicole Ashlyn Torrepalma, STC Media Communication students)