US embassy cable - 05ABUDHABI1153

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CHILD MARRIAGE IN THE UAE

Identifier: 05ABUDHABI1153
Wikileaks: View 05ABUDHABI1153 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Abu Dhabi
Created: 2005-03-13 11:21:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Tags: ECON ELAB PHUM PGOV SCUL SOCI KWMN TC
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
null
Diana T Fritz  12/06/2006 03:11:47 PM  From  DB/Inbox:  Search Results

Cable 
Text:                                                                      
                                                                           
      
UNCLAS        ABU DHABI 01153

SIPDIS
CXABU:
    ACTION: POL
    INFO:   PAO MEPI RSO AMB DCM P/M ECON

DISSEMINATION: POL
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: AMB:MSISON
DRAFTED: POL:RBASSIL
CLEARED: POL:JFMAYBURY PA: HOLSIN-WINDECKER

VZCZCADI492
RR RUEHC
DE RUEHAD #1153 0721121
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 131121Z MAR 05
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 8677
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001153 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR G/IWI (L. KHADIAGALA) 
ALSO FOR DRL, NEA/PI, AND NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON, ELAB, PHUM, PGOV, SCUL, SOCI, KWMN, TC 
SUBJECT: CHILD MARRIAGE IN THE UAE 
 
REF: STATE 36341 
 
POST CONSULTED WITH THE UAE GENERAL WOMEN'S UNION (GWU), A 
GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED UMBRELLA WOMEN'S ORGANIZATION, ABOUT THE 
ISSUE OF CHILD MARRIAGE.  FOLLOWING ARE POST'S RESPONSES TO 
REFTEL QUESTIONS REGARDING CHILD MARRIAGE IN THE UAE: 
 
A) LEGAL AGE OF MARRIAGE: THE LEGAL AGE OF MARRIAGE IN THE UAE 
IS 18 YEARS FOR FEMALES AND 21 YEARS FOR MALES.  THERE IS NO 
LOWER LEGAL AGE FOR MARRIAGE WITH PARENTAL CONSENT.  HOWEVER, 
ACCORDING TO GWU, UNDERAGE MARRIAGES TAKE PLACE, BUT THE 
DETERMINING FACTORS ARE THE MATURITY OF THE COUPLE AND PARENTAL 
CONSENT. 
 
B) EXTENSION OF PROBLEM: ACCORDING TO GWU, UNDERAGE MARRIAGE IN 
THE UAE IS CURRENTLY NOT DEEMED TO BE A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM, AS 
IT HAS CONSIDERABLY DECLINED DUE TO SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE 
COUNTRY AND THE SPREAD OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH 
MEN AND WOMEN.  GWU STATED THAT "LATE" MARRIAGE IS NOW THE 
TREND IN THE UAE AND THAT WOMEN OFTEN WAIT UNTIL THEY FINISH 
COLLEGE.  THREE DECADES AGO, UAE NATIONALS, ESPECIALLY WOMEN, 
DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION, AND ACCORDING TO AN EMBASSY 
CONTACT WHO IS A RESEARCHER AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES, GIRLS 
THEN WERE MARRIED AT THE AGE OF 13 AND BOYS AT THE AGE OF 16. 
ACCORDING TO GWU, CHILD MARRIAGE HAS NEGATIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND 
SOCIAL IMPACT ON THE CHILD.  THE PHYSICAL IMMATURITY OF GIRLS 
IS ALSO AN ADVERSE EFFECT. 
 
C) U.S.-FUNDED INITIATIVES: THERE ARE NO CURRENT U.S.-FUNDED 
INITIATIVES IN THE UAE THAT AIM TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE, OR 
ADDRESS THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS, OF CHILD MARRIAGE.  GWU, THROUGH 
ITS AFFILIATED WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE EMIRATES, HAS 
ORGANIZED A NUMBER OF AWARENESS PROGRAMS ON THE ISSUE OF 
MARRIAGE, INCLUDING UNDERAGE MARRIAGE.  THE UAE MARRIAGE FUND, 
AS WELL AS MATERNITY AND CHILD CENTERS, ALSO SPREAD AWARENESS 
ON THIS ISSUE.  ANY U.S.-FUNDED INITIATIVE COULD BUILD ON THE 
EFFORTS ON THE GWU OR OTHER NGO'S. 
 
SISON 

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