Ban Chua says "no" to early marriage and incestuous marriage

Cam Lo District Women's Union launched the "Leaders of Change" Club in Ban Chua village, Cam Tuyen commune - Photo: TAM

As the only village in Cam Lo district implementing Project 8 "Implementing gender equality and solving urgent problems for women and children", over the years, the people of Ban Chua village have always received attention and support from all levels and sectors in implementing policies and applying scientific and technological advances in production, contributing to improving their lives.

With the support of the Women's Union at all levels, from 2022 to present, people in Ban Chua village have participated in many training courses and competitions such as: raising awareness of gender equality (GEM) and empowering women, village officials, and households; raising awareness of gender and GEM for children; skills in accessing information and communication; preventing and combating domestic violence for officials, members, and women; the contest "Learning about the law on preventing child marriage and consanguineous marriage", and participating in seminars and conferences under Project 8 organized by the provincial and district Women's Unions.

The Women's Union of Cam Lo district organized a dialogue conference on policies related to women and children to listen to people's opinions, as well as to increase the involvement of local authorities in solving urgent issues for women and children. Thanks to the active implementation of movements, local departments, branches and organizations have contributed to helping people have more awareness about early marriage and consanguineous marriage. In addition, community intervention models established by the unions at all levels have been put into regular operation, initially bringing positive signals to the community.

With the participation of 30 members, the “Leaders of Change” Club of Ban Chua village has created a playground for children to learn and improve their knowledge and self-protection skills. Joining the Club, many children become confident and courageous to share, pioneer in changing perceptions, eliminating gender stereotypes, and gradually eliminating backward and harmful habits and customs among ethnic minorities.

Through the activities, the children frankly discussed many contents, spreading meaningful messages such as: "I don't want to get married yet"; "My body is mine"... At the club's activities, the children were given documents such as books, media stories, promoting children's participation and voice in local issues.

The model of “Community Communication Team” has 7 members participating, meeting once a month, contributing to propaganda and raising people’s awareness of gender equality and joining hands to solve urgent problems for women and children. In addition, the model of “Community Trusted Address” has also been invested in and equipped by the District Women’s Union, becoming a spiritual support as well as an effective propaganda channel to help ethnic minorities become more civilized and modern.

According to the report of the Women's Union of Cam Tuyen commune, in the past, there were 1-2 cases of child marriage in Ban Chua village, but in recent years, the people of Ban Chua village in particular and Cam Tuyen commune in general have confidently said "no" to child marriage and incestuous marriage. With 101 households including 389 people, 100% of whom are Van Kieu ethnic people, the highest poverty rate in the district, but the bad customs of marriage seem to have long become "a thing of the past" for the ethnic minorities of Ban Chua village.

In recent years, the lives of the villagers have improved significantly. The number of poor female member households in the village has decreased to 8, of which only 1 is headed by a woman. Ms. Ho Thi Be, Women's Association of Ban Chua village, said: "With the support of projects, typically Project 8, the people of Ban Chua village have access to new knowledge and information.

Thanks to that, the awareness of each citizen is raised. Everyone realizes the harmful and negative effects of early marriage, incestuous marriage and other social issues to avoid. Everyone wants their children to go to school and develop comprehensively.

To maintain peace in the village requires determination and great efforts of the government, departments, branches, close coordination between mass organizations, commitment to participate, solidarity, consensus, and joint efforts of the people for a better environment for women and children. "Because only when people realize and are determined to join hands to build, all problems will be solved", Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Thuong, President of the Women's Union of Cam Tuyen commune, Cam Lo district emphasized.

Ms. Thuong also added that in the coming time, to continue to maintain the achieved results, the Women's Union of Cam Tuyen commune will coordinate with the commune government and the Women's Union of Ban Chua village to continue propaganda work to help people understand the consequences and implications of early marriage, thereby overcoming backward concepts to make the right and wise choice in marriage; increase support for judicial activities, commune civil status in management, providing information and advice for those preparing to get married.

Carry out marriage and birth registration procedures in accordance with the law on civil status for children; support commune health stations in providing reproductive health care, family planning, maternal and child health care services; at the same time, organize households in the area to sign a commitment to implement the Law on Marriage and Family.

Integrate the content of propaganda on preventing child marriage with the cultural and social activities of the community and the regular work of the government and organizations. Focus on job creation, poverty reduction for local people, contributing to economic stability, building happy and civilized families.

Tran Anh Minh

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/ban-chua-noi-khong-voi-tao-hon-va-hon-nhan-can-huyet-thong-193578.htm