Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05LILONGWE232
2005-03-14 11:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Lilongwe
Cable title:
CHILD MARRIAGE IN MALAWI
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 141159Z Mar 05
UNCLAS LILONGWE 000232
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ELAB PHUM PGOV SCUL SOCI KWMN
SUBJECT: CHILD MARRIAGE IN MALAWI
REF: STATE 036341
UNCLAS LILONGWE 000232
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ELAB PHUM PGOV SCUL SOCI KWMN
SUBJECT: CHILD MARRIAGE IN MALAWI
REF: STATE 036341
1. Post provides the following information regarding
child marriage in Malawi. Responses below are keyed to
reftel paragraph 6.
A. Section 22 Subsection 6 of the Constitution of Malawi
states that the legal age for marriage in Malawi is 18.
This law applies to both girls and boys. The constitution
also states "for persons between the ages 15 and 18 years
a marriage shall only be entered into with the consent of
their parents or guardians."
B. Underage marriage is not a significant problem, either
among the population at large or within one or more
minority groups in Malawi. Statistics are not available.
The Ministry of Gender, Child Welfare and Community
Services indicated the GOM is not currently focused on
the issue of child marriage.
C. In Malawi there are no U.S. funded initiatives that
specifically aim to reduce the incidence or address the
negative affects of child marriage. However, other
development initiatives focused on education, health, and
economic security may indirectly address the issue.
GILMOUR
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ELAB PHUM PGOV SCUL SOCI KWMN
SUBJECT: CHILD MARRIAGE IN MALAWI
REF: STATE 036341
1. Post provides the following information regarding
child marriage in Malawi. Responses below are keyed to
reftel paragraph 6.
A. Section 22 Subsection 6 of the Constitution of Malawi
states that the legal age for marriage in Malawi is 18.
This law applies to both girls and boys. The constitution
also states "for persons between the ages 15 and 18 years
a marriage shall only be entered into with the consent of
their parents or guardians."
B. Underage marriage is not a significant problem, either
among the population at large or within one or more
minority groups in Malawi. Statistics are not available.
The Ministry of Gender, Child Welfare and Community
Services indicated the GOM is not currently focused on
the issue of child marriage.
C. In Malawi there are no U.S. funded initiatives that
specifically aim to reduce the incidence or address the
negative affects of child marriage. However, other
development initiatives focused on education, health, and
economic security may indirectly address the issue.
GILMOUR