To: The President Bhima Sangha and The Concerned for Working Children

We are stunned to hear that child marriage continues to remain as an accepted phenomenon in villages of Northern Karnataka. The practice is in violation of the rights of children, and its implications for physical and mental life is very harsh. We strongly denounce this practice and urge the concerned, particularly the local administration, to take an immediate measure to protect the children from the vice of its kind.

We are very encouraged to hear the movement Bhima Sangha is leading to fight this social evil. We strongly support it, and wish to join in any endeavour it makes in order to create an environment that regards child marriage as a punitive act.

We also urge other actors, the intelligentsia, media, civil society groups, and so on, to speak out against this practice. At a crucial point, remaining silent towards a crime justifies our complicity in it. Let us join our hands and raise voices in support of the children fighting the crime, which we adults had to do centuries before in order for bequeathing a decent environment to these children.
In solidarity,

Mukunda Raj Kattel

CWA, Bangkok

Dear Uchengamma

I am sorry to hear about your situation, but I am glad that you have decided to do something about child marriage. We have learnt a lot about strength and determination in children from you, Indian children. You have fought a number of battles that you have won and no matter how the odds are against you, you fight on. From you we have gathered courage to face our own limitation in terms of acceptance of children as equal partners. We know you have the stamina to face what is before you and you shall succeed.

Fight on for your success is not yours alone but shall be shared by so many other children. The problem of early marriage affects children even in Africa. From you children can learn that they can stand up for themselves and say NO! to what they do not want. Together with members of Bhima Sangha.

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Please pass on my message support and solidarity to Bhima Sangha and to Uchengamma herself in the struggle against child marriages. I wish them strength and fortitude in this difficult task. I also urge the local administration in Hollagundi to collaborate with Bhima Sangha in their
struggle.
I have also passed this message on to the Save the Children Newspaper for their consideration
Best regards

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Dear members of Bhima Sangha and Makkala Panchayats,

I support you in your efforts to campaign against child marriage in your communities. The practice of child marriage is a clear violation of children's rights and needs to be stopped with immediate effect. The state of India, by ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child, has the duty to ensure that this practice is forbidden, that legislation is in place to that effect and to ensure that the relevant laws are being enforced.

Wishing you good luck in your worthy struggle!

Yours sincerely,

Henk van Beers

Advisor on children's participation

Save the Children Sweden Southeast Asia Region

Hanoi, Vietnam

 

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Having heard the news that 14 year old Uchengamma, the president of Makkala Panchayat and the new president of Bhima Sangha State Committee is leading a protest movement against child marriages, including that of Uchengamma's own, I hereby strongly recommend that you collaborate with Bhima Sangha in their struggle.

Child marriages is not at all acceptable and cannot in any way be excused, which is further underlined by the fact that it is illegal according to the Indian legislation, and I certainly give my full support to Bhima Sangha and its fight against any injustices committed against the children in Karnataka.

Sincerely yours,

Lotte Ladegaard

Adviser to child labour project

Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies

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Dear Uchengamma and Bhima Sangha members,

I am proud of your spirit, dedication, and courage. For one like me at this distance, your work, your immediate anxiety, what you are facing are unclear. But, yet, I can imagine the resolve, desire and urgency with which you are confronting the challenge. I am happier still that you have the courage to fight your own battle unfazed. Wish with all my heart that you succeed. May there be a smile on your face at the end of the day, may your agitation raise the communities awareness and bring it prosperity in the future. May your organisation continue to be torchbearers in creating a better tomorrow. Don’t forget, for every thorn, there is a flower; if the thorn is stronger than the petals; it is the petals that contain many a seed portending many more flowers.
Kamlakar Bhat

Journalist

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Dear members of Bhima Sangha and Makkala Panchayats,

Culture is alive when it changes and can rejuvenate itself. This practice of child marriages is outdated and a violation to the children's rights and their claim on a future where they can be equal citizen's and members of society. The adults need some education and reflection to not continue their own suffering on the next generation.

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Hello,
I understand that there is a strong campaign against child marriages. I want to say that I am totally against child marriages. The psychological and physical damage that this does to a child is unforgivable.

I work in an abortion clinic in the United States. I have seen children raped and abused. This is irreversible damage. It damages the spirit of who that person is. Being robbed of your spirit at any age is a violation of human rights. Please stop child marriages immediately. Enforce the laws that are in place to help these children grow into health human citizens of the world.
If I can help in any other way let me know.

Sincerely,
Katie Gilbertson

Concerned citizen of the world

USA

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Dear Uchengamma,

You are so brave girl who dare stand up fighting for your own life. Remember that I am always on your side. I totally support for immediately stop to the practice of child marriage. The practice of child marriage is not acceptable. I am sure that your Government as well as all Government in the world will have a very strong action to prevent it. You and your friends will win.

Wish you with all success,

Hang

Le Thi Bich Hang

Admin Coordinator

Save the Children UK, Vietnam Programme

218 Doi can, Hanoi, Vietnam

 

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We are fully support for the movement initiated against child marriage.

Thank you

Udaya Laxmi

Nepal

 

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We strongly support the move launched by children to stop child marriages and stand by Uchengamma on her action against marriage. This came at a time when all of us are trying in one way or another to stop child marriages. We need more support from Civil Society organisation and bring pressure to those who willingly or unwillingly help continue this practice

Wish you all success in your campaign.

Lakshman M.Thanthrige

Programme Manager

Save the Children UK

Sri Lanka

 

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Dear Friends,

I would like to extend my support to Uchengamma and other friends who are waging personal as well as collective struggles against the practice of child marriage in parts of Karnataka. Do let me know if there is any practical way in which I can help in the struggle.

With warm regards,

Ammu Joseph

Journalist

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We fully support the children in their move and paying solidarity with Uchengamma and her team. The issue of Child marriage is also dominant particularly in some parts of rural Bangladesh.

Save the Children -Australia has been working in this issue in the district of Tangail since long. The children's council has been actively taking forward a campaign against Child marriage in some of the villages of Tangail. The children's congress supported by Save the Children Denmark is also known to be involved in Campaign against Child Marriage. So this mail is forwarded to SC/A and SC/D so that the children's groups from Bangladesh also could stand beside Uchengamma.

Will keep on soliciting support from other quarters.

All my support and solidarity with you in your campaign against child marriage in your communities. Having ratified the international Convention on the Rights of Children some years ago the Indian government has a clear responsibility to ensure the implementation of the law outlawing the practice of child marriage. Even now representatives of the state have a duty to intervene immediately on behalf of individual children.

Please keep us informed of any progress if you have time.

Keep up the fight! Best wishes!

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I am glad to see that people are finally beginning to protest archaic practices that are unconstitutional, unhealthy and unwise. We support Uchengamma and others in their efforts to stop the child marriage practice.

With best regards

Sincerely

Prasad Rallapalli

USA

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Dear Friends,

We the undersigned send our message of support and solidarity to Bhima Sangha and urge the local administration in Holagundi to collaborate with Bhima Sangha in their struggle against child marriage.

With regards,

Uma V Chandru

Vijaya Chandru

Maya R. Chandru

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We strongly support the case of Uchengamma and thousands of other Uchengamma’s of whom we are not aware of and have been subjected to victims of evil practices of our society. We are also sure that our friends at CWC will find some solution for the present crisis.

In solidarity

Rajiv Lochan Adhikari

Training Co-ordinator,

Consortium of Organisations working for child clubs

Kathmandu, Nepal.