MESSAGES OF SOLIDARITY

I pledge my solidarity to the cause of fighting child marriages.

warm regards

 S.M. Krishna, Chief Minister of Karnataka
India

Dear Uchengamma,

I want you to know that in this battle of yours and Bhima Sangha we are with you...I have talked to the members of Hatemalo Child Club here and also have sent the message to Sansari   and Narahari, whom you have met in Namma Bhumi. All the members of these child clubs are sending their voice of protest to this social injustice. We are here with the strong appeal to your parents to respect your views as well as  to the relevant social and government authorities, your state and village, Holagundi Gram Panchayat specially, to support your struggle  , to take the stand  and necessary action socially and legally to stop this violation of right of the child immediately.  I am very proud and confident of you. I am sure that with your strength and determination you will be able to lead Bhima Sangha to win this fight. Me and the members of the child clubs of Nepal, who are involved in the effort of bringing in social awareness to stop child marriage here in Nepal, are herein sending over all our support, our strengths, our solidarity , our best wishes for you Uchengamma and Bhima Sangha for your fight and the campaign against child marriage practices.   Wish you all the best,

With Love,
Nupur Bhattacharya,
CRC programming & Advocacy Director, Save the Children Norway
Nepal
 

Please do not let the parents marry her off at this very young and tender age. I would sincerely appreciate if you would give the child some time to grow and be mature enough to take on such a huge responsibility.

Thanks very much
Chitra Stroup
USA

I am keen to know about the progress made in respect of Uchengamma, Makkala Panchayat and Bhima Sangha. Please keep us informed and tell us if there is any specific thing we need to do to strengthen this movement, we are with you.  

With best wishes  
V S Basavaraju,
General Manager,  Association for People Disabled
India

Uchengama dearest

I Elizabeth Gwitira strongly condemn the practice of marrying of people
especially children Uchangama is not only a promising girl she also has her
own rights that must be honoured by everyone including parents Do not marry
off that child Those who practise such tradition should be punished severely
Give the girl time to grow up she deserves that time Marriage does not run
away When the time is ripe and when she wants to she will definitely choose
a man of her choice and marry DO NOT MARRY OFF THAT GIRL PLEASE

Elizabeth Gwitira
Farm Community Trust, Harare Zimbabwe

We saw your mail about unchengamma just now. we fully support the movement against child marriages. We wish uchengamma and all the others success in your endeavour .

K.Radha, Sasibhushanam
India

Dear Uchengamma and all the Bhima Sangha Members,
Makkala Sahaya Vani the Community collective with the toll free phone helpline for children in crisis or distress situation stand united with you and all your friends in this whimsical and forbidden practice of forcing a child into marriage. Your struggle in this issue is supported by all the staff of Makkala Sahaya Vani and the police officials here-(you will be hearing from them soon) to whom I have sent copies of your letter- and the letters from CWC. This practice is senseless robbing children of their rights and prohibiting them from living their childhood by forcing on them the mantle of trails, that neither the body nor the mind is ready for.

   As you are aware, we at MSV too are faced with cases of children who have been abducted and forcibliy married off. Your courage to oppose and confront this with your family, neighbours, relatives and the villagers is indeed commendable. There maybe times when you may feel anxiety and tired but remember, by being the leader you will be building a bridge for many more to follow in the path. Even though we have legislations banning this practice it is people like you- Bhima Sangha who will have to make the people and the society aware of the abuse and torture that children are put through in the name of rituals. Makkala Sahaya Vani stands stands in solidarity with you, Bhima Sangha and CWC in this campaign.  

Makkala Sahaya Vani
Children's helpline, India

I was most surprised to hear that Uchengamma's family is proposing to get her married. I met her during the Workshop on Children's Participation at Namma Bhoomi, Kundapura and was impressed by how much of a child she is. I dread to think what terrible consequences would result from child like her getting married, not only for herself and her family but for India. Marriage is difficult even for mature adults especially in India where life is a struggle for most...for children of her immaturity, it would be a disaster and denial of her rights as a human being. I am sure that the laws in India do not permit child marriage and the violation of human rights. All concerned with law enforcement and protection of human rights should take whatever action necessary to prevent this violation through law enforcement and education of Unchengamma's family and community. I support the actions that the Makkala Panchayat and Bhima Sangha State Committee are taking to protect the rights of children not to be married at the will of their families.

Prof. Hiran. D. Dias
Srilanka

Dear Uchengamma:
 I don't know how much my e-mail will help you in  your struggle, but I hope it does, even a little  bit.

   Child marriage is part of our tradition, and it is very difficult to convince our elders that it is not  good for our society. It is even more difficult to  rebel against our elders, since that is also against our tradition! So, let us find a traditional way of  dissenting against our elders - and hopefully,  persuading them of the wisdom of your choice.

    I hope you are wise enough to first try and understand their point of view - and see how  traditions like Child Marriage could have evolved to  protect and provide security to little girls and boys many, many years ago. Try and understand why  they think your getting married so early can help
 you, and your elders, even today.

  Then, you could try and look for examples in your own community where traditions have changed since the times of your grandma or great-grandma - and why  they did change without anyone getting angry. You will find that mostly traditions changed because society agreed (or did not mind) to change in order for it to progress, or because it had no choice - that it was either change, or perish.

    How about discussing with your elders and getting them to agree - first, that all societies do have to progress, and to progress they have to alter
 traditions. Then, get them to agree that marrying at a later age will actually help preserve the love and emotional ties of society. But no one, specially one who is older, likes to give in to someone who is younger just like that. So how about asking for their help in finding genuinely effective ways to protect little girls and boys like yourselves? Maybe they can alter a few more traditions? Or invent new ones altogether?

 Please let me know if reading this made you feel better.

Arvind Lodaya, Ahmedabad,
India

 I wish to express my whole-hearted support for the protest by Bhima Sanga
 against child marriages. I have been circulating your statement to others
 who might be interested enough to offer support.

Michael Bourdillon
Professor in Social Anthropology
Department of Sociology
University of Zimbabwe,  Zimbabwe

Many thanks for your email on early marriages and the campaign against it
that Uchengama has undertaken.
I applaud her courage.
   I live in an area that is rife with this problem and I am a member of an
organisation referred to as Child Welfare Forum and another called F.A.W.E.ZI.(Forum for African Women Education in Zimbabwe) who are organising a campaign in the district against the various abuses against women and children. One of the abuses that we are trying to address is "early marriages", while we join you in the campaign we
can learn from your strength and courages.

Best regards and best wishes.

Gwen Shoniwa

I fully support your efforts against child marriages. May you meet with all success in eradicating this terrible injustice done to children  

Dr Sudha Bhogle
Reader of Department of Psychology
Bangalore University
India

Dear  Uchengamma, and the other children in Bhima Sangha,

The struggle of Uchegamma reminds me of our children in my former work with upland communities in the Philippines who also believe in marrying off their children at young ages. They say when boys are already able to plant and harvest and girls are ready to bear children, then they are ready for marriage. A number of the children who were in our program of course believed otherwise after sometime in the program. They tried to explain to their parents the importance of being educated and growing up more first before marrying. Some parents understood, some did not. It was a constant struggle... I wish to send a hug especially to Uchengamma. It is not easy to take steps against our parents wishes and I know that it is a big challenge to stand up for what we believe in and yet still maintain our respect for our mothers and fathers. Sometimes, we have to speak our truths boldly, even when they hurt, and trust that later on, in the future, they will understand, too. To Bhima Sangha, my admiration and prayers for the success of your campaign. It could change lives of so many generations of girls and boys.

 Edel ,
Co-ordinator, Child Workers in Asia,
Thailand

We have heard of continued child marriages in India and are shocked and totally opposed to this practice. We think that both young men and women need to reach maturity and legal age for marriage, and that marriage under the legal age, especially when forced by parents is a violation of basic human rights. Parents who force children under the legal age to marry in the name of "tradition" or "that's the way it is done here" should be prosecuted and incarcerated for violating the law. No one is above the law, and child marriages are a form of forced servitude. Both sets of parents should be prosecuted.
We support the Bhima Sangha and CWC in their efforts at eradicating this awful practice.

Natesh Mohan
USA

Dear Uchengamma,

A  few months ago we were in India and visited Bhima Sangha in Bangalore
and Kundapur. We could understand a little of the great work you all are
doing for improving children's life in your country.
We are sorry that you have to face a so difficult situation, but very glad
that you found the strength to fight for you and for others children. We
are closed to you and to all other children in your campaign and we will
do all the possible to help you, as to change the tradition of child marriage
will be a big sign of freedom.

Warms regards

On behalf of Italianats
Fabio Cattaneo, President
Monica Canu, coordinator
Italy

The representatives of Arunodhaya Children's Clubs met on 15 June to discuss on the issue of child marriage with special reference to Uchengamma. All the children send their solidarity and support to Uchengamma and Bhima Sangha in their fight against child marriage. They expressed that many a times they and their friends also face such situation and strongly recommended that actions should be initiated in a large scale against child marriages.

I am fully in support of the efforts made by CWC, its partners specially the
children's groups on behalf of Ms.Uchengamma and other children who are been forced to marry when they still have years to grow up as a child. If there is anything we can do from Colombo would join to do so. We in Srilanka has nearly got rid of this custom which may have its needs and roots in tradition but which is no longer of any use. I wish that your efforts will go towards its eradication in Karnataka and then in greater India. Greater education of the people as to the legitimate causes for this custom and why they are no longer valid may help.

Sincerely

Dulan de Silva
Consultant -Rural Development
Trustee-National Development Trust
Advisor -Bernadina Stichting
Srilanka

Dear Uchengamma

I am sorry to hear about your situation, but I am glad that you have decided
to do something about it. 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

I wish you the best of luck.

Lots of love
Caroline Chikoore
Save the Children Norway, 
Zimbawe

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.


Marco van Grinsven
Vietnam

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

I support the protest against child marriage.

Annapurna S Kamath
MCA Dept, Mount Carmel College
India

I whole heartedly support the campaign against child marriages. It is sad that child marriage as a practice that is still prevalent, and is totally against the values of human upbringing.
   Please convey my solidarity to Uchengamma, Makkala Panchayat and Bhima Sangha.

Sincerely,

Bharat Sharma
Project Director, Chaali
India

My dear Uchengamma,

   I read about the protest you your friends are leading about child marriages. I feel touched and proud of the fact that you are only 14 years and you are doing  something most adults would not do or care about.

  Every society is built around beliefs and practices that members of that society are supposed to follow. But in truth, some of these practices are initiated and controlled by a few people with money or power and are imposed on everyone else. Why? Because it helps them and makes them even more powerful. Most of the times people follow what they are told because they don't think its important to question. Sometimes they may be scared to question and sometimes they may not bother to question. Most of the times they don't want to be seen as 'trouble makers' and so continue to do what everyone else is doing.

   I am sure you know that there was a practice called Sati in our country, where young women were burnt alive on the funeral pyre of their dead husbands. The powerful people justified this by saying a woman's life has no meaning after the death of her husband.

   They made it sound like a religious necessity and a social law. In those days most people did not think it was a terrible or inhuman practice. Slowly though, some people raised their  voices against these kinds of practices and worked towards changing the social beliefs.

   Today, even though this practice still continues in some places unfortunately, we as a society have moved away from this barbaric practice.

    There are many such examples. Women being made to sit apart once a month because they are considered 'dirty' during that time, allowing widowed men to remarry but denying  that right to women widows, killing female babies because they are seen as 'useless',  treating people differently based on their caste or religion and so on.
We take pride in the fact that we are a very old society with a great history. But many people fail to realize that a great society is not just a matter of long history. A great society is that which constantly works towards the betterment of its people; a great society is one which discards cruel or meaningless beliefs and practices; a great society is that which changes with time while keeping the dignity, honour, and the well being of its peoples as its central concerns. But, if they happen at all, these changes take time because people don't change their beliefs easily. They continue to think in terms of tradition, custom and family honour. In some cases, powerful people change things for the worse and usually it’s the women and children who suffer the most. You might have read about what happened in Afghanistan. It was a great society with a liberal and empathetic outlook.

   Some powerful groups took over the control later and brought in many negative  changes. Everyone suffered, especially the children and women. These kind of  bad practices are present in our country too, along with many good things. It takes many people and much time to carefully remove bad things from a society and make the good things better.

   Sometimes, it takes people like you who are directly affected by a problem to come out, talk and persuade others to think about it. Some people will listen to you, some will not. Some people will support you and many others will not. That is why you will need the support of all your friends and elders who know what is right. Your elders and family will need to know why child marriage is a bad practice. They need to know  that if they consider your happiness and interests as important (I hope they do), then they should also know why marrying you off at this age will not be appropriate. They should understand the problem from legal, economic, health and rights angles.

   I do not know whether your family will accept your point, but the effort will have to be made and the pressure will have to be put by the people who think like you. Remember  one thing, there are many many people who think like you. you are not alone. Use that support. I hope the friends in CWC will translate this mail for you.

All the best to you and your friends.

Regards

Mallikarjuna Konduri
India

Dear  Uchengamma and all the brave children in Bhima Sangha

I just saw your solidarity list and I have not read about the specific case. But out of the responses I can tell. First of all, I am so glad that the children in Bhima Sangha  have a forum they can use to reach out to people and not at least to find support for their cases. This is of utter importance and makes the children stronger to fight against exploitation and injustice. I wish there were more children who had the opportunity to stand up protecting their rights. To fight against old traditions and not at least against your own parents is not easy and it demands a lot of courage and support. I do hope your campaign will succeed and that it becomes a known case. The children's views and opinions MUST be taken into account, and I hope this will increase the knowledge about it.

    I wish you all the best and please bring more of these cases into the open. The more we know the better!!!

Lots of love
Aina Winsvold
Ph.D. Student
Sweden

We have shared the message with our Children's club and the leaders are
meeting on 15th to decide on the action to be taken. We at Arunodhaya feel
very much concerned about this issue and our solidarity is with you.

With kind regards,

Virgil.
Director, Arunodhaya
India

I support this great campaign against child marriage. In fact in 1996-98 we did campaign against child marriage in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh in some selected villages on limited scale but I do agree that a real nation wide campaign is required to stop this inhuman practice of child marriage.

   I suggest that CWA calls for a meeting or a joint meeting by those NGOs interested in this issue - we can host meeting in Delhi- for planning a nation wide campaign against this practice.

With regards to all

Joseph Gathia
Executive Director
Centre of Concern for Child Labour
India

I hereby pledge my support to Bhima Sangha.

Harsha Vardhana
India

Young Unchengamma, we salute you.

  You have taken a brave stand and the only
right stand in a situation that affects you and innumerable other children
like you. Congratulations on finding the courage, and we wish you strength
as you go forward.
To the Bhima Sangha, our best wishes and plenty of love.

Hansa, Jitu and Neel
USA

1. Uditha Gunaratne, president & Executive Director
2. Nilanthi Pushpa Kumari, Program/ Admin: Manager
3. Lasantha Sriyakanthi, Program Coordinator
4. Siriman Gunaratne, Chief Adviser
5. Sunethra Neelamani, Program Coordinator
6. Ranjan Weththasinha, Program Coordinator
7. Nishantha Kumara, Program Coordinator
8. Sarala Mangalee, Cashier
9. Sameera Primal, Assistant Coordinator
10. Champika Premawardana, Information Assistant
11. Inoka Premawardana , Statistic Assistant
12. Kumara Danangala, House Officer
13. Udayasiri Pushpa Kumara, Junior Staff – Programme Coordinator, Interactive Children’s Society – Colombo
14. Kalum Sameera, Junior Staff - Interactive Children’s Society – Colombo
15. Udaya Presad, Junior Staff - Interactive Children’s Society – Colombo
16. Sawmaya Kanthi P.G. (LLB & Attorney at Law), Adviser of SLIMG - COLOMBO
17. Shantha Gunaratne, Local Helper
18. Sena Upathissa Perera, Local Helper
19. Dr Ruvini Athaudage, Local Helper
20. Harhika Madushani, Joint President,, Interactive Children’s Society – Kiribathgoda
21. Nayodya Thamarasi Perera, Joint President Interactive Children’s Society – Kiribathgoda
22. Anjale Nisansala Maduwanthi, President, Interactive Children’s Society – Kelaniya
23. Viboda Gotahbaya
24. Malintha Rangana
25. Nipuni Tharika
26. Yasara Dulmini
27. Patum Sadaranga, Interactive Children’s Society – Kiribathgoda & Children / Adults from
28. National Network of Children’s Organizations
29. Interactive Children’s Movement
30. CRC-TOT-National Student Group
31. Network of District Student Leaders
32. Child Rights District Core-group Member
33. National Campaign for Education Teacher’s Group members

An Appeal : Join us in our effort and contribute to our cause!
Send your responses to: response@workingchild.org