Somalia’s parliament is in the line of fire again after recent reports coming out from the state hinted towards a new law relating to child marriages.
Somalia’s parliament is keen on passing a bill that gives a green light to child marriages after a girl’s sexual organs reach maturity. Moreover, this new Sexual Intercourse Related Crimes Bill could further lead to forced marriages, under the parents’ consent.
The new law sent shockwaves around the globe, marking a giant dramatic reworking for women’s rights.
It’s almost as if the country was going in a backward direction. All over the world, countless organizations have spent years of effort to help give Somalia’s women more protection. But this rather alarming decision is causing a stir in one of the most conservative countries.
When passed, the bill could be a major setback for the war against Somalia’s sexual violence as well as that present around the globe.
The United Nations representative made specific claims regarding the new bill. Pramila Patten explained in a statement released on Tuesday how the new law must be withdrawn ‘immediately.’
Likewise, she added how the new bill would further weaken protections offered to victims involved in sexual violence.
According to statistical analysis by the UN, around 45% of all young women in the country were married, before the age of 18 years. And with this law, there could be an alarming increase in these already harrowing figures.
The country agreed with the United Nations in 2013, when it decided to amend all of its laws relating to sexual violence. At the same time, five years of hard work resulted in the passing of a sexual offenses bill.
However, the Bill was sent back by the Speaker of the House, asking for certain amendments.
Today, the new Bill is literally legalizing child marriage, among a number of other worrying practices. And for this reason, the UN claims that it’s imminent to withdraw before it turns into a law.