US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO654

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Identifier:	05COLOMBO654
Wikileaks:	View 05COLOMBO654 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Colombo
Created:	2005-04-04 09:21:00
Classification:	UNCLASSIFIED
Tags:	PHUM ECON ELAB PGOV SCUL SOCI KWMN Maldives
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000654 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS AND G/IWI FOR KHADIAGALA 
NSC FOR DORMANDY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM, ECON, ELAB, PGOV, SCUL, SOCI, KWMN, Maldives 
SUBJECT: MALDIVES:  CHILD MARRIAGE NOT COMMON 
 
REF:  STATE 36341 
 
1.  SUMMARY.  CHILD MARRIAGE IS NOT A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM IN 
THE REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES.  UNDER CIVIL LAW, THE LEGAL AGE OF 
MARRIAGE IN MALDIVES IS 18 YEARS OLD, WHICH APPLIES TO BOTH 
BOYS AND GIRLS.  HOWEVER, UNDER EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, A 
FATHER MAY REQUEST THE COURT TO WED TWO PEOPLE BELOW THIS 
AGE.  STATISTICS ARE NOT CURRENT BUT INSTANCES OF CHILD 
MARRIAGE ARE INFREQUENT SINCE THE FAMILY CODE WENT INTO 
EFFECT IN 2001.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  ANSWERS TO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS POSED BY REFTEL FOLLOW: 
 
A.  THE FAMILY CODE, IN EFFECT SINCE 2001, SETS THE LEGAL 
AGE OF MARRIAGE IN MALDIVES FOR BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS AT 18 
YEARS OLD.  A FATHER MAY PETITION THE COURT TO WED COUPLES 
BELOW THIS AGE UNDER EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. 
 
B.  UNDERAGE MARRIAGE IN THE REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES IS NOT A 
SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM IN THE POPULATION AT LARGE OR IN 
SPECIFIC ETHNIC OR MINORITY GROUPS. 
 
C.  THERE ARE NO U.S. FUNDED INITIATIVES IN THE REPUBLIC OF 
MALDIVES THAT AIM TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OR ADDRESS EFFECTS 
OF CHILD MARRIAGE. 
 
LUNSTEAD