Members of Seyaj’s women’s committees for the protection of girls from early marriage stressed the importance of raising awareness, building local capacity, and involving communities, especially women, in both preventive and follow-up protection for child-marriage victims.
During a meeting organized by Seyaj and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Sana’a on the occasion of Human Rights Day, participants said that families, communities, and state institutions must all assume responsibility for reducing the problem and protecting girls from its devastating impact.
The Dutch ambassador reaffirmed his country’s support for development and for the protection of vulnerable groups, especially women, children, marginalized communities, and persons with disabilities. He praised Seyaj’s work and confirmed continued support for its efforts to protect girls from early marriage in rural areas of Al Hudaydah, Ibb, Hajjah, and Al Mahwit.
Seyaj President Ahmed Al-Qurashi emphasized the need to strengthen preventive protection through positive awareness, effective legislation, and responses that address the real causes behind the spread of child marriage. The organization also noted that it had launched the first phase of its ‘Himaya’ project by training 63 women leaders in 21 districts, with further awareness, legal protection, and community activities scheduled to continue through January 2016.
