Archbishop Desmond Tutu in India to stop child marriage

Renowned South African activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu has called for a concerted effort to bring about a social reform to end the inhumane practise of child marriage.

Archbishop Tutu along with a delegation of The Elders is visiting India from 6-10 February 2012, to raise awareness and urge people to stand-up against the widespread practice.

The Elders is a group of world leaders formed by South African President Nelson Mandela, to work together for peace and human rights.

"Child marriage is a traditional practice that is not particular to any religion. I want to draw particular attention to the impact it has on girls, and to encourage men in leadership positions to see that it is in the interests of all of us that we work together to tackle the issue of child marriage," said Tutu, who is the Chair of The Elders.

On Tuesday, Tutu along with the delegation met with Chief Minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar, Panchayat leaders, students, and senior health officials from across the state.

The state of Bihar has the highest rate of child marriage of girls in India. Some 69 per cent of women are married before the age of 18, and almost half married by 15.

"Besides being a human rights issue, child marriage is also a development issue. We want to focus on this as it connects other concerns such as child malnourishment, infant and maternal mortality," said Archbishop Tutu, whose role in the fight against South African apartheid in the 1980s gained him the Nobel Peace Prize.

It is estimated that some 47 per cent of women in India marry before the age of 18.

The Elders delegation, which includes activist Ela Bhatt, Dr Gro Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway and Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, will also visit Delhi to attend a meeting hosted by Girls Not Brides, a new global partnership to end the practice of child marriage.

Created by The Elders, Girls Not Brides brings together over 70 people and organisations from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to tackle child marriage at national and global levels around the world.

"The Elders are not here to lecture or prescribe. What we hope to do is to listen to girls affected by child marriage, their parents, their teachers and community leaders, and amplify their needs and concerns in our conversations with government, media and other influential people," said Ella Bhatt, founder of India's Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA).

"I am very sympathetic to the difficult decisions that families must make here in India. Even if they want their daughters to be educated, there are often no schools nearby, especially outside the big towns and cities. Physical security is a real concern if girls have to travel long distances or stay in dormitories away from home," she expressed.

Ella hopes the Elders' contribution will help to create an enabling environment where everyone works together, including government, media, and businesses "so that girls can become equal members of the family, not second class members, and can truly fulfil their potential".