BY ABIDGAIL MERTA GANGGANG
KUCHING: The Sarawak Women for Women Society (SWWS) aims to gather 500 petition signatures to call on the government to ban child marriages in Sarawak.
According to the vice president of SWWS, Kim Tan, the society has gathered around 280 signatures to date.
Kim Tan said that they aim to reach their target of 500 signatures by May, after which they will present the petition to the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN).
Earlier, Kim Tan raised public awareness of the harms of child marriage and how it violates human rights at the Heart to Earth Market held at the Kuching Community Social Support Centre (CSSC).
She emphasised that a child is not a bride, and laws banning child marriage are necessary to change societal attitudes and increase awareness of the issue.
Kim Tan further explained that married girls are more vulnerable to domestic violence and suffer from disrupted emotional and physical development, resulting in higher rates of infant mortality and a lower likelihood of remaining in school, ultimately leading to a higher risk of sustained poverty.
She stated that one in five young women aged 20 to 24 years old are married before their 18th birthday, compared to one in thirty young men.
“In Malaysia in 2021, 210 divorce cases for persons below 18 years old were filed, and 26 underage marriages were signed up last year,” added Kim Tan.
The SWWS encourages the public to sign the petition and support their cause. Interested individuals can visit their centre at Level 4, La Promenade Mall 2, Hock Seng Lee Tower, Kuching – Samarahan Expressway, or visit their Instagram account at @sarawakwomen for more information.
