Sabah to look into legal reforms to end child marriage

By Olivia Miwil - July 3, 2019 @ 4:16pm

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government is looking into amending laws to end child marriages in the state.

Assistant Law and Native Affairs minister Janie Lasimbang said the legal reforms on setting the minimum marriage age of 18 is expected to be discussed during the state assembly sitting in August.

“We are looking into several key drivers of legal reforms, which include law and policies, parenting and access to education, as well as comprehensive sex education,” she said, adding that the reforms would not be easy to implement but the ministry would work with other non-governmental organisations.

She was speaking at a press conference in conjunction with a three-day workshop on child marriage, jointly held by the ministry and Unicef.

Also present was Unicef deputy representative in Malaysia Radoslaw Rzehak.

Janie added that the ministry would also form a task force to monitor implementation of the legal reforms and follow through interventions.

“We have to look beyond, on how to change the mindset of the people. Ending child marriages is better for the children, economy and country.

“While it is important to reduce teenage pregnancy, there should also be better support strategies in place for them. They must be told that it is not the end of life for them. That it is just another phase of life, that they still can continue to attend school,” she added.

According to Janie, social norm is one factor contributing to child marriages, whereby pregnant teens are forced to get married by their family.