In recent times, in Bac Kan province, propaganda, mobilization, and counseling to raise awareness and change the behavior of ethnic minorities regarding early marriage and consanguineous marriage have been given attention and focus through many projects and policies. However, this issue is still a challenge and a barrier to the goal of social progress and sustainable development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.
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The Ethnic Minorities Committee of Bac Kan province organized a contest to learn about the Law on Marriage and Family, knowledge about early marriage and consanguineous marriage in 2023 at Cho Don Ethnic Boarding School.[/caption]With over 88% of the population being ethnic minorities, Bac Kan pays special attention, prioritizes resources, and implements many ethnic programs, projects, and policies, thereby significantly improving the material and spiritual life of ethnic minorities.
In addition to investing in infrastructure, health care,education , information technology, etc., Bac Kan province focuses on implementing projects and policies to reduce child marriage and incestuous marriage in ethnic minority areas.
Through mass media, radio programs, leaflets, banners, contests, and knowledge contests, people can easily access information about health, gender, marriage, family, and the consequences of early marriage and incestuous marriage. This contributes to raising awareness and changing behavior about early marriage and incestuous marriage in ethnic minority areas.
However, according to a report from the Ethnic Minorities Committee of Bac Kan province, the situation of child marriage and incestuous marriage in the area is still high and tends to increase.
Specifically, from 2021 to present, the whole province has had 235 early marriages/4,137 registered marriages (accounting for 5.6% compared to marriages at the right age); there was 1 case of incestuous marriage.
The report also pointed out that early marriage and incestuous marriage often occur in ethnic minority groups that still face many difficulties, with the common age of early marriage being from 16 to 19 years old for boys and from 14 to 17 years old for girls.
Besides objective causes such as customs and practices that have been deeply ingrained in the awareness of the majority of ethnic minorities for many generations, the Bac Kan Provincial Ethnic Committee also determined that there are causes stemming from leadership methods, propaganda and mobilization methods.
To reduce the situation of early marriage and incestuous marriage in ethnic minority areas, this agency believes that it is necessary to continue to enhance the role and responsibility of Party committees, authorities, and mass organizations at all levels in propaganda, education, prevention, and reduction of early marriage and incestuous marriage.
In particular, the Bac Kan Provincial Ethnic Committee noted to focus on selecting key and central content that is close to the reality and awareness of ethnic minorities, and the right target; integrating propaganda content into mobile information programs and dramatization.
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Communication on gender equality, early marriage and consanguineous marriage at the pilot model of Giao Hieu Primary and Secondary School, Pac Nam district.[/caption]In addition, it is necessary to promote extracurricular activities in schools and law propaganda clubs; develop reports, news, and articles reflecting the consequences of early marriage and incestuous marriage to be broadcast on radio and television systems, especially grassroots loudspeakers.
In propaganda work, it is also necessary to promote the role of ethnic minority cadres, village elders, village chiefs, prestigious people, mediators, and grassroots collaborators in carrying out propaganda work and mobilizing the implementation of laws on marriage and family.
Another solution also mentioned by the Bac Kan Provincial Ethnic Committee is to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of State management and strictly enforce the law in the prevention and control of child marriage and incestuous marriage. Strictly handle violations of the law on marriage and family, especially those of officials and party members; impose administrative sanctions combined with sanctions according to village and hamlet conventions.
In addition, it is necessary to attach responsibility between the government and schools in managing students at high schools, boarding schools and semi-boarding schools for ethnic minorities; strengthen the connection between schools and families in managing students...
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