Outcry In Somalia As New Bill Means Child Marriage Is Allowed Once A Girl’s Sexual Organs Mature

[midclegs]

igvofficial.com/outcry-in-somalia-as-new-bill-means-child-marriage-is-allowed-once-a-girls-sexual-organs-mature/

I don't know what to do about this - if anything CAN be done. But this will set a precedent for neighbouring states. I'm sure there are far more knowledgeable women here who could provide more information on this?

And “Forced Marriage is legal if the families agree!

What does that even mean! When girls start menstruating I suppose so in some case 8 to 10 year old becomes acceptable.

And of course a high proportion of them will have had FGM performed on them.

How on earth those poor girls survive to adulthood.

And I'm guessing the women in the families have any or little say I'm the decisions. Children raised to become objects to satisfy men. Ripped away from their mothers and raped continuously.

https://www.change.org/p/federal-parliament-of-somalia-stop-the-intercourse-bill-and-pass-the-sexual-offence-bill-2018?recruiter=1139533423&utmsource=shareepetition&utmmedium=twitter&utmmcampaign=psfcombooshareinitial&utmmterm=0de97d58c0df4e8da86e7053f73cbafa&recruitedbyy_id=4fbce3d0-da41-11ea-ab7f-6723d3ad3b3d

That's horrendous

Thanks for the petition link

Yes awful. An fgm campaigner I follow on twitter tweeted about it.

Signed

Signed

Horrendous.
Signed.

Absolutely awful. Thanks for sharing the news and petition. I've signed it. Wish there was more that we could do.
Clearly there are powerful and corrupt segments in the parliament of Somalia that are determined to undermine the Sexual Offences Bill by stalling it for two years and now heavily amending it. I hope they are unsuccessful.

Awful.
Signed.

This is so upsetting. I’ve signed. Thanks for drawing attention to it.

Signed
Thanks for sharing

Zsigned

Signed.

First ever post, finally signed up to MN so I can show support for things like this which are so important. I'm not eloquent enough to post regularly, but I just wanted to say the women on FWR are so inspiring. Thank you.

Why do men insist on marrying children?!

Are there lack of women there?

Or is a status symbol?

Poor girls.

Signed.

Children are easier to control, is why so many men like girls these ages.

My DDs both started their periods one month after they turned 10.

I'm not sure how they are defining sexual maturity. But the idea from men (lots of men across the world) that it's fair play once a girl looks old enough is not uncommon.

I swear I already posted on this thread but anyway, thanks OP and signed.

Why do men insist on marrying children?!

I can't speak to the precise nuances of Somalia but, in similar (Shafi) cultures my understanding is that the fact that they're children is almost incidental. Child marriage is motivated by family honour, if a non-virgin wife is 'provided' to an eligible suitor then this represents a failing of her entire family. Girls are also seen as a burden on their parents and, as they age, there's a risk that they'll adopt habits or interests which might make them less useful in serving their in-laws. Essentially, the sooner they are married, the less risk there is to the honour of their parent family.

This is roughly how a Yemeni I met though work described the reasons to me. She described it with the same emotion I might use to explain why we have separate hot and cold taps. The function of the family unit is completely different to what's widely understood by modern residents of the West.

the same emotion I might use to explain why we have separate hot and cold taps

What, like embarrassment at the stupidity?

However plenty of men in the UK are attracted to secondary age girls. Loads of women will confirm that the most street harassment they got was around that age and especially when in school uniform.

The attitudes are harsh as well in society, look at the way the girls in Rotherham etc were viewed.

Not saying for a moment things are as bad as in Somalia and of course we do have an age of consent of 16 (which is lower than what international orgs state should be 18 as an aside), but to point out that the type of attitudes towards girls is pretty toxic in many/ most countries around the world, although it takes different forms and has different levels of severity.

What, like embarrassment at the stupidity?

Banality, she wasn't openly embarrassed, she just saw it as the way a certain portion of her fellow citizens conducted themselves culturally (Yemen contains several different Islamic cultures). Perhaps describing the rivalry between Yorkshire and Lancashire, as someone from further south, might be more accurate.

I think characterising this as men simply being attracted to young girls and acting upon it because they can isn't necessarily helpful because it is only one consequence of a much deeper cultural difference which, in my opinion, needs to be resolved to drastically improve the lives of women in those countries.

because it is only one consequence

Apologies, I think this might sound like it's minimising the issue. It's definitely the worst of a horrible set of consequences, I mean that, in order to free girls from rape and slavery, the way family units function in these societies needs to be addressed.