SÎLVA ÎBRAHÎM

Manbij- On August 1, the Zenûbiya Women's Community announced that they launched a campaign to end child marriage in North and East Syria. As part of the campaign, the community keeps carrying out activities. NuJINHA spoke to Sarah Habaq, a member of the community, about the campaign, which will last until the end of September.

        

The campaign is run in four liberated cities

The campaign is run in Manbij, Tabqa, Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor, four liberated cities of North and East Syria. “The aim of the campaign is to end child marriage in the region,” Sarah Habaq said, emphasizing that the increase in child marriage is one of the important social problems in Manbij.

‘The campaign focuses on parents’

The community has been organizing meetings with the participation of women and men to raise awareness. “The target groups of the campaign are people of all ages. The campaign especially focuses on parents because they make the decision to marry off their daughters.”

‘The prevention of child marriage will solve many problems’

        

The Education Committee of the Internal Security Forces also supports the campaign. Bushra Mustafa, member of the committee, said, “We have been organizing meetings to give information about the family law. Girls, who are forced into child marriage, are subjected to violence. The prevention of child marriage will solve many problems.”

‘Children should not be victims of the outdated mindset’

Bushra Mustafa emphasized that the aim of the campaign is to raise social awareness. “Education plays an important role in raising awareness against child marriage. We will do our best to end child marriage. Children should not be victims of the outdated mindset. They have rights and they should know their rights. Our aim is to build a democratic society. Every individual has the right to freedom.”

Ruqaya Muhammad, member of the Health Committee of the Zenûbiya Women's

        

 

Community, talked about the effects of child marriage on health.

“When girls reach the age of 14, they are thought of as ‘adults’ by society; however, they are still children. Child marriage directly affects girls’ health and psychologic well-being because they are not ready to bear the responsibilities imposed on them. They are at higher risk of low birth weight, preterm delivery and severe neonatal conditions, as well as being more likely to suffer from malnutrition and stunting throughout childhood.”