Online Reporter
Moses Magadza
SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) secretary-general Ms Boemo Sekgoma has stressed the need for a comprehensive multi-sectoral response to child marriage.
She believes the practice is deeply intertwined with sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), education, economic inclusion and climate justice.
Speaking during a panel discussion at the Women Deliver 2026 Conference in Melbourne, Australia, last week, Ms Sekgoma highlighted the continued regional impact of the SADC Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriage and Protecting Children Already in Marriage, describing it as a powerful legislative and advocacy instrument shaping reforms across Southern Africa.
The model law, she said, has become “an effective tool for domestication of legal and administrative norms to eradicate child marriage”, adding that it has also “proved its influence to accelerate domestication endeavours on several human rights themes and parliamentary mandates”.
Ms Sekgoma said child marriage was not a standalone social issue but one that triggers other harmful consequences affecting young girls’ health, education and prospects.
“Child marriage is a definite contributor to early and unintended pregnancies, which is one of the major causes of school dropouts. No child should be compelled to become a mother,” she said.
She further warned that the repercussions extend far beyond the marital relationship itself.
“Child marriage is an issue which cannot be looked at in isolation, but must be considered in a comprehensive manner, with the dire consequences of child marriage always going beyond the scope of mere matrimonial links,” she said.
These consequences, she also said, include unintended or forced pregnancies, unsafe abortions, early motherhood and interrupted education — outcomes that undermine long-term development and gender equality across the region.
Central to the SADC PF strategy, Ms Sekgoma added, is the harmonisation of legal standards across member states.
Under the SADC Model Law on Eradicating Child Marriage and Protecting Children Already in Marriage, countries are encouraged to fix the legal age of marriage at 18 years, regardless of whether the marriage is civil or religious, as well as ensure that consent is free and informed.
The law also addresses structural vulnerabilities affecting children, including access to education and legal protection, while drawing on established regional instruments such as the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
It also introduces financing mechanisms to sustain prevention efforts.
Ms Sekgoma explained that it provides for “special budgetary provisions to combat child marriage, including an anti-child marriage fund which authorities can tap into to sponsor regular sensitisation campaigns”.
Responding directly to the panel question on intersections with teenage SRHR and age-of-consent debates, Ms Sekgoma highlighted the forum’s focus on practical interventions that keep girls in school and expand their economic opportunities.
She cited initiatives to eliminate the so-called “pink tax” and ensure access to menstrual hygiene products, noting that such measures help prevent school absenteeism and dropout.
Further, she pointed to strengthened parliamentary oversight on gender-responsive labour policies.
These include scrutiny of maternity protections and workplace support for women, which she said contribute to financial stability and reduce vulnerability to early marriage.
Ms Sekgoma highlighted another innovation pioneered by the SADC PF, which includes integrating gender and development commitments into national budgeting frameworks.
She explained that the SADC Model Law on Public Financial Management requires governments to align annual budgets with sustainable development goals and international obligations.
“Legal provisions also enunciate that the budget must be accompanied by an explanatory statement which explains how the budget is responding to other main international commitments taken by the state,” she said, citing instruments such as CEDAW, the Maputo Protocol and the African Youth Charter.
This approach, she noted, ensures that financial inclusion and gender equality are systematically addressed through national planning processes.
Ms Sekgoma also acknowledged the challenges posed by misinformation and cultural resistance to comprehensive sexuality education and safe reproductive health services.
She warned that opposition framed around anti-gender narratives can reinforce harmful social norms.
“The anti-gender movement encourages the status quo, which promotes patriarchy and deepens the gender divide,” she said.
Limited access to information, low literacy levels and school dropout rates are key drivers of such resistance but could be addressed through sustained community engagement and parliamentary leadership.
Ms Sekgoma drew attention to the emerging connection between climate change and child marriage risks and noted that environmental shocks often intensify economic hardship and gender-based violence.
