Camille McMillan-Rambharat, wife of Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat, is leading an online public campaign to end child marriages in T&T.
Using her Facebook page, McMillan-Rambharat has been raising public awareness about the existing Marriage Act which allows girls as young as 12 to be married.
In an interview McMillan-Rambharat said her campaign was not political.
“For over 20 years I have been involved in issues relating to children and young people, particularly girls. This includes issues on care and protection of children in foster homes, numeracy and literacy issues, nutrition, mentorship and career development,” she explained.
McMillan-Rambharat said the awareness campaign was being conducted by a group.
“We decided that there was need to highlight the different viewpoints and promote a solution. We focused on the legislative changes needed.
“The group has received good support and the general response has been that people did not know much about the specific laws and the reason why they should be updated,” she added.
The minister’s wife said children should never be forced to marry.
“My own view is that marriage is regarded as a contract. Both parties must therefore be of an age that allows to give informed consent. Also the laws relating to minors must be consistent in its description of minors,”she added.
Asked to comment on statements made by secretary general of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha that child marriage was “Hindu business” McMillan-Rambharat said:
“Our group does not link the public awareness campaign to any religious views. The age for marriage is for us a matter of civil law,” she said.
Asked why it was taking so long to change the controversial legislation, McMillan-Rambharat said: “It has taken this long because the public was not as heavily engaged on the issue as they are now.
”Social media has contributed to the discussion and information-sharing and that has generated a lot of the interest and support.”
She noted that her campaign was to raise public awareness of the issues and promote discussion and change.
“Our legislators have taken note and have expressed a desire to make the required changes,” she added
She also said child protection required close attention to the management and protection of children in foster homes; increase in the availability of social services in schools; public awareness campaigns to cause people to be on the lookout for signs of child abuse, particularly sexual and physical abuse, and denial of access to education.”
“This is actually a public awareness campaign that highlights the agreement of both Government and Opposition to support legislative change. The campaign promotes an understanding within the wider public of the extent of the problem and the prospects of solutions,” she added.