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UN hails child age amendment

The United Nations has described the recent amendment of the constitutional marriageable age as central in the push to end early marriages in line with global Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).

The fifth target of the all-inclusive goals, which President Peter Mutharika signed at the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, bind government to take necessary steps to eliminate all gender inequalities and all forms of discrimination against women and girls by 2030.

Signed the statement: Seppo

Parliament last week passed an amendment that outlaws marriages involving girls aged below 18.

A statement signed by UN country representative Mia Seppo hails Parliament for aligning the constitution definition of a child with international obligations, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the Sadc ADC Protocol on Gender and Development.

In an interview, Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Jean Kalilani government will go flat out to disseminate the amendments once Mutharika assents to it.

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