Ei-iE

Child marriage is defined as marriage of any young person below 18 years of age in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children (Article 1) United Nations 1990). Approximately about 15 million girls between the ages of 15 and 19 give birth every year in the world (UNICEF, 2007). The phenomenon is prevalent amongst both boys and girls however, it disproportionally affects girls the more (Svanemyr et al, 2012, UNICEF, 2010, Sibanda 2011, Nour, 2006, UNICEF, 2005)

According to Langa (2015), between 2000 and 2011, the prevalence of child marriages in Zimbabwe hovered around 31% and was among 41 nations with the highest rates. To buttress this, Garbus and Sakutukwa (2003) argued that it is estimated that 3 out of every 10 girls in Zimbabwe are married before they attain 18 years, which is the legal age of majority for girls. Laiton (2016) notes that the Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe recently outlawed child marriages.

There are several challenges brought on the girl child who are in child marriage. Girls who got married before the are 18 years old are not physically, emotionally and mentally prepared for their roles as mothers and wives (Mutyaba, 2011). In addition, the author stated that child marriages have also resulted in a large number of girls dropping out of school as most tend to get pregnant due to the sexual abuse, arising from their marital obligation to have sex with their husbands.

According to Raj, et al (2010), studies document that girls marrying as minors are more likely to bear children as minors and are thus at increased risk for maternal and child morbidities and maternal and infant mortality. Hanzi, (2006) also mentioned that the risk of death from pregnancy related causes is four times higher in the age group under 18 than in women who are over 20 years of age. According to Mutyaba (2011) young girls who get married before they attain the age of 18 are susceptible to HIV infection. The author added that, the subordinate role that young girls occupy in their marriages makes them vulnerable to HIV infection because they are less likely to either question their husbands about their HIV status or insist on protected sex.

In many cases, child marriages are part of social norms (Dube, 2015). The process of eradicating child marriages is in no way an easy one simply because in most societies the practice has come to be an engrained norm. In some instances, the normative practices are deeply rooted in religion and tradition. As part of culture and tradition, most communities have socially sanctioned child marriages despite its negative effects of the children's psycho-social and economic development. The phenomenon of child marriage occurs as a result of socio-cultural drivers for child marriages vary between urban, semi-urban and rural areas.

It is against this background that ZIMTA has taken a bold position to play a part in ending child marriages. Due to the fact that: · ZIMTA has the largest teacher membership and one would find at least one member in each of the Zimbabwean primary and secondary schools and it is for that reason that we bring the human resources required into the programme. Naturally as an organization which works with teachers, our organization has easy access to all schools. · Our good working relationship with the Ministry of education Primary and Secondary, helps in getting the required support from the ministry and opening access into schools. · Being agency of change that we are, we can have advocacy activities that can make girl child protection policies. Through Advocacy, Awareness and Trainings greater impact will be achieved. · ZIMTA has offices in all the ten provinces. This helps to ensure a wide if not total coverage in terms of advocacy, awareness and trainings. It is the largest union in Zimbabwe and has the capacity to reach out to girls, parents, teachers, religious leaders

- To end child marriages by 2020 -To identify social norms, behaviours and structural factors that promote or inhibit child marriage in both rural and urban settings -To establish intervention strategies to curb he socially normative behaviours and structural factors

1. Base Line survey

1. Interventions:- 2.1 Educational Programmes 2.2 Workshops with traditional leaders to raise awareness 2.3 Influence Stronger policies

The project is just starting. No results as yet.