Jeremy+and+Stephanie

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Abstract

This article notes on the progress of the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act of 2009. Kakenya Ntaiya is the Vital Voices Global Leadership award nominee and testified on the issue of forced child marriage. As a child Kakenya was on of those girls who were engaged to be married at a young age. She, however, was able to convince her father to let her attend school instead. Kakenya emphasized how important education is and said that "education is the key to empowerment." The article also commented on how forced child marriages have negative effects on a woman's health. Melanne Verveer, and ambassador on women's issues, believes forced child marriage should be done away with and put "in the dustbin of history."

Responses


 * Jeremy: After reading this article, I have to say that I could not agree more with the stand that Kakenya Ntaiya has taken against the issue of forced child marriage. The concept of forced child marriage seems to have no benefit whatsoever for anybody and can only bring more problems in terms of health and education. Child marriage undoubtedly has an effect on child pregnancy, and as Francesca Moneti said in the article, "child preganancy is the single most important problem in nutrition." For the benefit of women and the world in general, I believe that Kakenya Ntaiya and everyone involved in the fight against for child marriage are exactly on the right track. Also, Kakenya's statements that forced child marriages should be replaced with education are exactly correct and I do believe that education is the key to a better future for everyone, especially women in Africa. There is no greater proof than Kakenya, herself.

Questions:
 * Stephanie: To students like us, forced child marriage seems like an out-of-world and ancient idea. It is a huge deal, but more than half of us, if not all, probably have not even thought of forced child marriage as an imperative problem that needs to be fixed. The fact of the matter is that in other countries across the world, children are still bound to preplanned marriages. When I read this article, I was shocked that there were still countries that practiced the tradition of arranged marriages. However, I was impressed by initiation that Kakenya took to talk to her father in order to avoid marriage. I can only imagine the bravery and courage it took for her to challenge her father’s wishes. I strongly agree with Kakenya’s statement, “Education is the key.” Education brings awareness, and from that awareness can come action, actions that can change.
 * What do you think Kakenya meant when she said "education is the key to empowerment"?
 * Why do you think Kakenya's father let her get out of the marriage?
 * If she did not mention going to school, do you think her father would have made the same decision?
 * Is tradition more important than the well-being of the child?