In order to disseminate and raise legal awareness on preventing and combating child marriage and consanguineous marriage in mountainous areas and ethnic minority regions, the Youth Union of the Agencies and Enterprises Bloc of Lao Cai province has recently collaborated with several units to organize awareness campaigns through mock trials at schools.
The 2024 mock trial, themed "Preventing Child Marriage and Consanguineous Marriage," was organized by the Provincial Youth Union of Agencies and Enterprises in coordination with various agencies and units at Tung Chung Pho Primary and Secondary School (Muong Khuong District), with the participation of over 400 students. The trial, staged by the Youth Union branches of the Provincial People's Court, the Provincial People's Procuracy, the Department of Justice, and the Muong Khuong District People's Court, simulated a criminal trial with all the procedural steps. The case content was dramatized to suit the age group of the students.
The trial concerned an individual who had a relationship with a 9th-grade female student who was underage for marriage and engaged in sexual intercourse with her. The defendant and the 9th-grade student were legally allowed to marry by their families, but they waited until she reached the legal age to register the marriage. The village head, aware of the situation, tried to persuade them to stop but failed and reported it to the authorities. The defendant confessed to his illegal actions and was prosecuted for the crime of sexual intercourse with a person aged 13 to 16. According to the Penal Code, the defendant was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison.
The trial proceedings attracted a large number of students, who learned valuable lessons from it. After the trial, the Provincial Agencies and Enterprises Bloc Youth Union also organized a Q&A session about the case that had just been tried in the mock trial to further reinforce students' legal knowledge.
Student Then Thi Van said: "Through the trial, I have understood some legal regulations regarding child marriage and consanguineous marriage, and from that, I have learned a lesson for myself and will actively spread awareness in my family, village, and community where I live."
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hien Luong, Judge of the People's Court of Muong Khuong District, said: "Although the trial was a mock trial, we followed all the criminal procedural rules correctly. We also paid attention to incorporating messages promoting the prevention of child marriage and consanguineous marriage, tailored to the age of the students."
Mr. Tran Van Quan, Secretary of the Youth Union of the Provincial Agencies and Enterprises Bloc, said: "Through these mock trials, we contribute to equipping people and students in mountainous and ethnic minority areas with legal knowledge, changing habits, and raising awareness about preventing child marriage and consanguineous marriage. These mock trials attract thousands of people and students, affirming the effectiveness of legal education through this method."
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