Source: Rwanda Focus
The draft law on family and persons which is under scrutiny in the parliamentary committee on political affairs and gender, has been generating a lot of debate.

One of the biggest sources of controversy was the suggestion to lower the legal marriage age from 21 years to 18 (article 166). According to MP Alfred Rwaka Kayiranga, in a survey conducted by lawmakers in 19 districts, the public spoke out against the proposal.

"Most of those we talked to indicate that it is not suitable, saying that an 18-year-old should not become a mother, both for her own wellbeing and that of the child," he explained.

In addition, during the hearings on the law officials from the National Children Council (NCC), Pro-Femmes Twese Hamwe (which groups 58 women NGOs) and UNICEF were invited. "Their views were not very different from those we met on the field," Kayiranga said, adding that some officials even asked that the marriage age should be raised to 25 years.

Another argument concerns adequate education, which would be interrupted if 18-year-olds are allowed to marry as in the best case, they are barely out of secondary school. "People said that that would be devastating for their future," Kayiranga remarked.

Suzanne Ruboneka, a women's advocate who was present at the hearing, stressed that 18-year-old teens are not ready to parent, adding that people should bear in mind that there is a huge difference between giving birth and caring for kids. "An 18-year-old can surely give birth, bearing children and rearing them are two different things. Then comes the issues of building a sustainable family, do you think that 18-year-old's instability in decision-making makes them good candidates to marriage?"

Speaking from experience, she said that the earlier a girl marries the more children she is likely to have and the more vulnerable her family becomes. "Early age pregnancy increases health risks for the mother," Ruboneka added.

Others argue that it would be a mistake socially. "At 18 you might be a grown up, but you have not attained full maturity to manage tough struggles such as marriage affairs. If this is approved, expect family break-ups rising," commented Gilbert Nyungura, a 40-year-old living in Kigali.

Burden:

However, those who support the proposal say that the decision of marriage is personal and no one would be forced to marry at the age of 18 even if the law allowed it.

One student at SFB, who didn't want to be named, said that it's quite stunning to judge a 16-year-old mature enough to have an identity card but they can only marry five years later. "At 18 you can get a driver's license, open a bank account and even have legal sex, but you can't marry. Why can't we harmonize these rights at a common age?" she questioned.

According to her, this has been a source of conflicts between parents and their daughters, burdening the latter. She gave an example of her friend who gave birth at the age of 19, but could not marry. "She now has two children from different fathers and no hope for marriage as she is close to her 30s."

Many parents indeed argue that at 18, both the boys and girls are psychologically young, dependants and still in school. They fear that reducing legal marriage age would lead to a possible increase of divorces and family conflicts. "It hurts to see your daughter come back home because she has failed to stay with her husband," stated a father of five. "My children can go for marriage when they are old enough to figure out all the obligations and duties involved."

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