An Abuja-based group, the Association for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Nigeria, AONN, has pilloried some senators for surreptitiously voting in support of early child marriage during the recent clause-by-clause review of proposed amendments to the constitution.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja tagged: "Slavery Disguised," Coordinator of the group, Mrs. Priscilla Nwachukwu, said: "It is madness for somebody to marry a child without considering the associated health, social and economic challenges."
Nwachukwu added that marrying off Nigerian girls in childhood would only deepen their trauma and further enslave them.
She said: "Child marriage has far-reaching health, social, economic and political implications for girl-child and her community. It truncates a girl's childhood, creates grave physical and psychological health risks and robs her of internationally recognised human rights."
Nwachukwu identified poverty, social ties and protection as reasons why some parents give out their wards in early marriage.
