Children in Sylhet on Saturday painted pictures to sensitise people to resist forced marriage and raise awareness against it.
Deputy British High Commissioner Nick Low hosted a competition at the district council auditorium in Sylhet and awarded prizes for the best pictures.
Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Ariful Haque Choudhury attended the function as the chief guest, according to a British High Commission press release.
The British High Commission’s initiative is aimed at raising awareness against forced marriage among communities with strong links to the UK, and encouraging them to take action.
Forced marriage is recognised in the UK as a form of violence against women and men, domestic and child abuse, and a serious abuse of human rights.
Children between the ages of 12 and 16 years painted pictures in a range of creative ways, each depicting the important message that the consent of girls and boys is a must before any marriage.
Speaking on the occasion Nick Low said, “A forced marriage is a marriage without the full and free consent of both parties. It can’t be justified on any religious or cultural basis. It’s an appalling and indefensible practice.”
The UK government is committed to stopping it and last year Forced Marriage Unit in the UK handled cases involving 74 different countries.
Source: UNBConnect
