A webinar to support “Girls Not Brides Act”

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY –- Zonta Club of Cebu II hosted a webinar to support Senate Bill No. 1373 or the “Girls Not Brides Act” authored by Senator Risa Hontiveros as part of Zonta’s advocacy to educate the public on the importance of this bill.

Cristina Garcia, president of the club pledged to support the campaign to end child marriages and emphasized that social change cannot succeed without community engagement.

In the June 5 webinar, Zontian Atty. Mae Elaine Bathan said that the freedom of choice is among the rights of every Filipino and does not exempt girls and she however highlighted the lack of awareness on this subject and on the bill.

According to Senator Hontiveros that child Marriage is a form of abuse, it is criminal and should never have a place in society. Child Early and Forced Marriages is a tragic reality to which girls are subjected largely due to economic circumstances, cultural expectations, and outdated beliefs and norms, she added.

“There are girls who are forced to enter child marriages because of the baseless conception that the measure of a woman, of a girl, is determined only by being a wife, a mother, a homemaker,” Hontiveros stated.

UNICEF reported that 10-million child marriages may occur before the end of the decade and the Philippines was ranked 12th in the world with the prevalence of child marriage.  Although the country is a signatory to international laws concerning child brides, the legislation that the country has, lacks in protecting these girls.

The Girls Not Brides Act, if passed into a law, cab provide the necessary protection. “Let us help each other help our children. Let us ensure that our girls simply be children, children who can still dream, hope, and enjoy the bright future that awaits them,” Hontiveros issued this appeal to all child advocate groups in the country.  She remains hopeful though that the bill will be passed in the 18^th Congress.

The webinar was attended by members of Zonta Clubs of Cebu I, Iloilo, NCR, Davao, Gensan, Bacolod, and CDO. Other prominent guests include members of Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Cebu CityChapter, LGUs represented by Mandaue City Councilor Cynthia Remedio and Cebu City Councilor Nina Mabatid, police officers, and representatives of Mandaue Local Office of Muslim Affairs. (Photos: Zonta Club of Cebu II/Google Images)