Members of the youth group conduct house-to-house conversations with families in the community to talk about gender-based violence and CEFM. Through the project, Rohainie and other “girl defenders” engage with key Muslim religious leaders (MRLs), community, private sector, and political influencers, as well as their fellow youth, in advancing women’s leadership and rights and helping prevent violence against women and girls including child, early, and forced marriages (CEFM). The group, a youth partner of Al-Mujadilah Women’s Association (AMWA), is part of the Creating Spaces project, which aims to reduce the prevalence of child, early and forced marriages.įunded by the Government of Canada through the Global Affairs Canada, this five-year project of Creating Spaces to Take Action on Violence against Women and Girls is implemented by Oxfam Pilipinas, AMWA, United Youth of the Philippines - Women, in partnership with the Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP). She is part of Linding Kokalombayan, a group of young women in Lanao Del Sur province and Marawi City campaigning against child, early and forced marriages in BARMM. Today, besides being a political science student at Mindanao State University-Marawi (MSU), Rohainie has also become a Maranao youth leader. “Her body was not ready to handle mother’s task at a very young and tender age,” Rohainie said. Rohainie suspected that the girl had a miscarriage. The girl then became ill and died after just six months.

She feared having the same fate as her 13-year-old relative and neighbor who was forced to marry a 30-year-old man. In a way, Rohainie was fortunate that her mother listened to her. Some have not even reached puberty or had their first menstruation. Nowadays, arranged marriages are practiced to also escape poverty, or protect political interests, to keep dignity (Maratabat) and to avoid premarital sex, she said.Īccording to locals like Roconsalam, a number of brides are non-consenting girls who are forced into marrying men they have never met and are often multiple times older than them. Marriage between relatives is preferred since it is assumed that it helps tighten relationships among clans and that it can prevent feuds and misunderstandings between erstwhile warring clans, explained Roconsalam who is a leader of the Women’s Association on Turmeric Production, a project supported by Oxfam Pilipinas and other non-profit organizations promoting women empowerment in the region. She wanted to finish her studies first, she politely told her parents.įortunately for Rohaine, her mother Rocaya respected her and her right to decide for herself.Īccording to Roconsalam Amer, president of a women’s organization in Lanao del Sur, arranged marriages have long been a tradition among Maranaos. It was hard trying to focus on studying for an upcoming exam,” Rohainie said.Īfter the visitor left, she begged her mother to say no to the arranged marriage. Uncomfortable and anxious, she struggled to stay silent as she continued to eavesdrop. If things went according to plan, Rohainie would be married before the fasting month of Ramadan. Rohainie was shocked to learn that the relative was proposing an arranged marriage between her and the aunt’s son. I will talk to her,” said 20-year-old Rohainie.

“Although both were talking in whispers, I could hear my mom saying, let’s just ask her if she is willing.

Arranged marriage statistics