‘Media has significant part to play in promoting awareness' JEDDAH: The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has called upon individuals, civil groups and the media to stand against the marriage of minors, describing the marriage of young girls to older males as a “violation of children's rights found in the Convention on the Rights of the Child of which the Kingdom is a signatory”. The government-affiliated HRC said in a press statement Wednesday that it was in the process of drawing up a legal framework to protect against the abuse of underage girls' rights. “We are continuing to work with the relevant bodies to follow up and prevent cases like these,” the statement said. “Full awareness is required of the need to protect children and provide them with a safe and stable family environment.” The statement said that HRC head Bandar Al-Aiban had ordered a new committee immediately following recent press reports of a 13-year-old girl married off to a man in his fifties. “HRC specialists were tasked with investigating all the circumstances behind the case. This is a violation of the rights of this child, who still needs family care and an education, and to enjoy her childhood.” The HRC has been carrying out studies into the marriage of minors from “legal, social, psychological and health angles”, noting the “serious damage caused to the child and society at large”. “The media in its various forms has a significant part to play in standing against violations of children's rights and promoting awareness of the dangers,” the HRC said.
