Refugees marry off girls for survival
Apr 21, 2007
VULNERABILITY and poverty forces refugees to marry off their daughters, a report by the Refugee Law Project has revealed.
By Patrick Jaramogi
VULNERABILITY and poverty forces refugees to marry off their daughters, a report by the Refugee Law Project has revealed.
Launching the report titled “Giving out their daughter for their survival: Refugee self-reliance, vulnerability, and the paradox of early marriageâ€, Noah Gottschalk, the project research associate, said the survey was conducted in Nyakivaale, Madi Okolo, Rhino Camp and Oruchinga refugee settlements last year.
“The survey depicts a widespread illegal practice of early marriage in refugee settlements and it highlights the fact that many refugees chose to do so as a means of survival,†Gottschalk said on Thursday.
The report urged the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to include the refugee youth, who are vulnerable to early marriages, into the category of adolescents at risk.
Dr. Sylvia Tamale, the Dean Faculty of Law Makerere University, castigated policy makers for not putting in place laws that conform to reality.
“The paradox of early marriages goes back to our law makers who sit in their places and make laws without understanding the circumstances regarding the age of consent.â€
She said the laws should be rooted on morality lest they become a mockery.â€
“Early marriages translate into sexuality and sexuality presents a peculiar tool for men to feel more superior to women.â€
Tamale noted that it is one thing to get married and another to understand why someone is getting married.
“To them, it is a survival tool. Being called Mrs gives them the protection tool but it is unfortunate that those supposed to provide protection are the ones who assault them sexually,†she observed.
VULNERABILITY and poverty forces refugees to marry off their daughters, a report by the Refugee Law Project has revealed.
Launching the report titled “Giving out their daughter for their survival: Refugee self-reliance, vulnerability, and the paradox of early marriageâ€, Noah Gottschalk, the project research associate, said the survey was conducted in Nyakivaale, Madi Okolo, Rhino Camp and Oruchinga refugee settlements last year.
“The survey depicts a widespread illegal practice of early marriage in refugee settlements and it highlights the fact that many refugees chose to do so as a means of survival,†Gottschalk said on Thursday.
The report urged the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to include the refugee youth, who are vulnerable to early marriages, into the category of adolescents at risk.
Dr. Sylvia Tamale, the Dean Faculty of Law Makerere University, castigated policy makers for not putting in place laws that conform to reality.
“The paradox of early marriages goes back to our law makers who sit in their places and make laws without understanding the circumstances regarding the age of consent.â€
She said the laws should be rooted on morality lest they become a mockery.â€
“Early marriages translate into sexuality and sexuality presents a peculiar tool for men to feel more superior to women.â€
Tamale noted that it is one thing to get married and another to understand why someone is getting married.
“To them, it is a survival tool. Being called Mrs gives them the protection tool but it is unfortunate that those supposed to provide protection are the ones who assault them sexually,†she observed.