A delegation from the General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation OIC and International Islamic Fiqh Academy IIFA will participate in a capacity-building workshop for religious, traditional and parliamentarians on Ending Child marriage in Africa organized by the African Union (AU). 

The workshop, which will be held from 13-16 September 2016 at the African Union Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa, is expected to provide an understanding of child marriage and other harmful traditional practices focusing on the role of religious and traditional leaders as important agents of change in ending child marriage in Africa, according to a statement issued by the OIC. 

During the workshop, Ahmed Abdulaleem of OIC’s International Islamic Fiqh Academy will present a study on Ending Child Marriage from Islamic Perspective.

A recent study by OIC’s Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries SESRIC indicates that marriages at young ages (before 18) may lead to serious health problems for men and women who are not ready for marriage. 

The report titled The State of Children in OIC Member Countries and published in June 2015 indicates that:“Poverty, protection of girls, family honour and the provision of stability during unstable social periods are some of the main driving factors behind child marriage.”

Source: MENA