Early marriage to be focus of study
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Anatolian Agency
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 15, 2009 00:004dk okuma
ANKARA - A parliamentary committe initiates a study on early marriages in Turkey. "Thirty percent of marriages take place in the age group of 12-19s" says the head of the committee, who claims this is a reality in Turkey. The study is a first despite numerous research on women.
A parliamentary commission is planning to conduct research on early marriages in Turkey.
A subcommittee formed of five parliamentarians will talk with officials from the Education, Health, Justice and Interior ministries as well as officials from the Religious Affairs Directorate. The members of the committee will then go to seven regions to make observations in the field. The committee will prepare a report describing the problem and offering solutions.
Recalling that 30 percent of marriages in Turkey are in the 12- to 19-year-old age group, Öznur Çalık, president of the committee, told the Anatolian News Agency that marriages at an early age is a reality in Turkey and that there is a general consensus in society on this issue. "In order to ensure the well being of individuals and society, we need to proceed without provoking this consensus and avoid creating unease," Malatya deputy Çalık said. "We need to share this problem with the society in an evolutional transformation."
There is a need to understand why marriages are taking place at such early ages and the moral and material reasons behind them, said Çalık from the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP. "We need to see the serious complications that come out of these marriages, physical problems that lead to difficulties later in life."According to Çalık, one of the arguments against early marriages is health problems, both physical and psychological. "Marriage at an early age brings with it birthing at a young age. We need to especially focus on complications suffered by young girls."
Another serious consequence of early marriage is the high death toll among those who give birth at an early age, according to Çalık. "The rate of death toll among young mothers is higher. We need to explain clearly this situation to society. Early marriage is a violation of human rights, women’s rights and children’s rights. We put heavy responsibility on the shoulders of children who are still at playing age. We need to see that we also don’t take away their right to an education."
Recalling that marriages of those below 17 are not considered "official" according to civil law, Çalık said it is difficult to detect unofficial early marriages.According to unofficial research, 80 percent of marriages at an early age are by girls. According to Çalık, there is a general view in the society that education can solve the problem and support from local administrators, muftis, teachers and parents is required.
"We need to have a higher participation in education. The campaigns for more girls in school are very effective. We need to have the local opinion leaders, teachers and religious officials informing the public about the risks of early marriage."
Legal amendments not enough to solve problem
Pointing out that there is no general map of Turkey concerning early marriages, Çalık said there is a conviction that most marriages at an early age take place in eastern and southeastern Turkey and that this phenomenon is related to cultural tradition. "Şanlı Urfa is the city where we see the most early marriages. But this phenomenon takes place in Central Anatolia, too. Some studies by non-governmental organizations reveal the same problem is seen in İzmir, Yozgat and Diyarbakır."
Çalık said they have asked for contributions from the Human Rights Directorate. Recalling that there is no research covering the whole country, Çalık said data would be collected from the Human Rights Directorates in 81 provinces and 892 districts to see the situation. According to Çalık, Parliament’s research on early marriage would be a first in Turkey despite numerous studies on women’s rights, like violence against women, or women employment. He said legal amendments are not providing a lasting solution to the problem.
A subcommittee formed of five parliamentarians will talk with officials from the Education, Health, Justice and Interior ministries as well as officials from the Religious Affairs Directorate. The members of the committee will then go to seven regions to make observations in the field. The committee will prepare a report describing the problem and offering solutions.
Recalling that 30 percent of marriages in Turkey are in the 12- to 19-year-old age group, Öznur Çalık, president of the committee, told the Anatolian News Agency that marriages at an early age is a reality in Turkey and that there is a general consensus in society on this issue. "In order to ensure the well being of individuals and society, we need to proceed without provoking this consensus and avoid creating unease," Malatya deputy Çalık said. "We need to share this problem with the society in an evolutional transformation."
There is a need to understand why marriages are taking place at such early ages and the moral and material reasons behind them, said Çalık from the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP. "We need to see the serious complications that come out of these marriages, physical problems that lead to difficulties later in life."According to Çalık, one of the arguments against early marriages is health problems, both physical and psychological. "Marriage at an early age brings with it birthing at a young age. We need to especially focus on complications suffered by young girls."
Another serious consequence of early marriage is the high death toll among those who give birth at an early age, according to Çalık. "The rate of death toll among young mothers is higher. We need to explain clearly this situation to society. Early marriage is a violation of human rights, women’s rights and children’s rights. We put heavy responsibility on the shoulders of children who are still at playing age. We need to see that we also don’t take away their right to an education."
Recalling that marriages of those below 17 are not considered "official" according to civil law, Çalık said it is difficult to detect unofficial early marriages.According to unofficial research, 80 percent of marriages at an early age are by girls. According to Çalık, there is a general view in the society that education can solve the problem and support from local administrators, muftis, teachers and parents is required.
"We need to have a higher participation in education. The campaigns for more girls in school are very effective. We need to have the local opinion leaders, teachers and religious officials informing the public about the risks of early marriage."
Legal amendments not enough to solve problem
Pointing out that there is no general map of Turkey concerning early marriages, Çalık said there is a conviction that most marriages at an early age take place in eastern and southeastern Turkey and that this phenomenon is related to cultural tradition. "Şanlı Urfa is the city where we see the most early marriages. But this phenomenon takes place in Central Anatolia, too. Some studies by non-governmental organizations reveal the same problem is seen in İzmir, Yozgat and Diyarbakır."
Çalık said they have asked for contributions from the Human Rights Directorate. Recalling that there is no research covering the whole country, Çalık said data would be collected from the Human Rights Directorates in 81 provinces and 892 districts to see the situation. According to Çalık, Parliament’s research on early marriage would be a first in Turkey despite numerous studies on women’s rights, like violence against women, or women employment. He said legal amendments are not providing a lasting solution to the problem.