Jannie with PPD and school officials.
A student of SMK Entabuan receiving a prize for answering a quiz.
TENOM : – Ending child marriage is a crucial topic, and organizing school talks can play a significant role in raising awareness among students and teachers.
Kepayan Assemblywoman Jannie Lasimbang said this opening a talks in SMK Keningau and at SMK Entabuan, Tenom, on Tuesday.
Jannie initiated this programme to end child marriage in 2018 when she was the Assistant Minister on Law and Native Affairs.
In her speech, she pledged to continue pushing for the implementation of a 10-Year Plan to End Marriage Under 18 Years that was passed at a multi-stakeholders workshop by the government and UNICEF.
The school talks are organised by PACOS Trust, to implement one of the pillars of the 10-Year Plan. 15 schools in Sabah will be aproached in a programmes funded by the European Union.
In today’s talk, Datuk Dr Tarsiah Zaman, president of Majlis Penasihat Wanita Sabah explained the situation of child marriage in Sabah.
Another speaker, Suzannah Piny from Lembaga Penduduk dan Pembangunan Keluarga Negara highlighted the social, health, and economic consequences, such as disruption of education, health risks from early pregnancies.
Jubili Anilik, a young lawyer, spoke about how the civil, syariah and native courts are dealing with child marriage.
He also explained that under the Penal Code it is a criminal offence to have sex with girls below the age of 16 years, and marrying off the child should not be considered a way out.
“I have been pushing for the cabinet to amend the Rules of the Native Court Enactmebt 1992 to clarify on the process of any applications for marriages under 18 years, but its been 5 years and nothing has been put forward” Jannie lamented.
Jannie added that child marriage will perpetuate the poverty cycle and is a violation of children’s rights.
Jannie also shared stories of her experience with girls who marry early who had to serve her husband’s family to do all the domestic work like washing, cleaning and cooking.
Her own future is no longer within her control.
In closing, she encouraged students to speak up if they or someone they know is at risk and to to motivate them to share the message with their families.
Jannie also invited representatives from NGOs working to end child marriage, local leaders or government officials to discuss laws and enforcement and healthcare professionals to talk about the physical and psychological risks of child marriage.
