Addressing Sexuality to end Child Marriage

There is an important need to talk openly about sexuality and how it relates to child marriage, how sexuality is closely linked to gender roles and how understanding and addressing this link can help achieve sustainable development goal number 5, Gender Equality. Many have claimed that “talking abut sexuality” is a “personal matter” and not one that is discussed in the public eye, particularly in certain cultural context. However, the United Nations has been talking about sexuality for over 20 years, in negotiation rooms and spaces dealing with women’s health and other important issues. The panelist in the session Why Addressing the control of sexuality is critical to ending child marriage? address the topic with a cultural, social and professional lens noting the values and norms and how it relates to complex women’s issues. The idea that in order to address practices such as child or forced marriage, girls and boys need to be properly educated in order for them to take control of their own sexuality. The key is in programs that work closely with the community, men, women and most importantly religious leaders. Understanding the use of ‘language’ and how to talk to the community in a way that doesn’t add to the taboo and challenge of speaking openly about sexuality even in “safe spaces”.

Archana Dwivedi, Director of the NGO Nirantar in New Delhi, India stated that sexuality is not an issue it is a perspective, as is gender and we need to find a wholesome way to view those norms in order to understand its construct. Dwivedi goes on to say that, sexuality has no beginning or end point, and is informed by gender and sexuality norms and gender norms are informed by sexuality norms. Research in India mapping early and child marriage found that poverty is linked to gender and sexuality norms, however, many young people are marrying out of their own choices, and young people are concerned about many issues other than sexuality. Gender and sexuality norms are linked, and at the same time are constantly challenged by changing cultural views of gender and sexuality which impact girls much deeper, without losing sight that boys are also affected. Panelist Anthony Keedi noted that, if we continue to look at women as the ones we need to provide for, ones that can not provide for themselves, that creates a perpetual need for paths such as child and forced marriage on a social, cultural and economic basis. The concept of taking control of one’s own sexuality and allowing for that control to be given to women is a step towards eradicating child and forced marriage.

Collective Advocacy: Leverage Because She is Not Alone

“Unless you draw on women’s expertise and also use women as planners … and any marginalized group, you’re leaving chips on the table.”

The NGO CSW session of March 14, 2016, “The Power of Women and Girls’ Voices: New Directions in Collective Advocacy,” gathered together leaders from Women Thrive Worldwide, Rural Women’s Network Nepal, Forum for African Women Educationalists, Generation Initiative for Women and Youth Network Nigeria, and World Learning.

One of the panelists lauded Women Thrive Worldwide for the NGO’s success at lobbying the UN to include equitable, inclusive, and quality education, rather than simply access to education, as part of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for these next 15 years. This is a clear example of the result of collective advocacy, of listening carefully to the voices of those affected by education that fails on indicators of these qualities.

Women Thrive Worldwide communicated 5 major lessons about how collective advocacy can be used most powerfully at the global level:

1. Building relationships among coalition members is critical.

2. Evidence-based messaging is powerful.

3. Diversity of advocates makes the collective voice more relevant.

4. Research, training, coaching, tools, and engagement should be concerted, representative, and 

    applicable.

5. Advancing the priorities and solutions of women and girls living in poverty, especially, is a top 

    goal for NGOs as they meet directly with decision-makers and stakeholders.

One of the panelists asserted the following:

“You have unique capability when you draw on those voices; you have authenticity that leads to a power persuasion that no one can match; third, you eliminate tremendous amounts of talent [if leaving them out]. Unless you draw upon them for advocacy, you’re not credible.”

Certainly, women and girls, and any other group suffering inequality and its blight on the human soul, do know what is best for themselves. Their voices must be heard, and they must matter.