Recommendation On Age Of Marriage

Press, Volume C, Issue 29505, 5 May 1961, Page 2

Recommendation On Age Of Marriage

GENEVA.

A convention and a recommendation on the minimum age of marriage, consent to marriage and registration of marriages, has been agreed to by the 18-member United Nations Commission on the Status of Women which met at Geneva recently.

The convention and recommendation will now be referred to the United Nations Economic and Social Council and to the General Assembly for action.

Although the convention merely emphasises that the parties to the convention shall take legislative action to specify a minimum age of marriage, the legislation suggests that this age should, in fact, be 15. Mrs Tamal Ashel, of Israel, who presided at the meetings said that 15 was not an ideal age, but it was agreed to by the commission in the hope that the recommendation would receive the widest possible acceptance. In many countries, she said, the minimum age was lower; in one of the states of the United States local legislation laid down the minimum age as 14. Political Rights Economic rights of and opportunities for women, were also discussed by the commission. A discussion on political rights brought out that although women were eligible for election on an equal basis with men and were able to vote, in three countries—Guatemala, Portugal and the United Arab Republic—political rights of women were still subject to certain special restrictions. In Monaco, women may vote and be elected in municipal elections only; in San Marino, women may vote, but not be elected, while in the Sudan, women may not vote but may be elected. In the Swiss cantons of Geneva. Vaud and Neuchatel, women may vote and are eligible for cantonal

office and for election in certain municipalities. Otherwise Swiss women join their sisters in nine countries where women are still denied voting rights and cannot stand for election. In two of these. Saudi Arabia and Yemen, there are no electoral rights for either men or women. Particular reference was made to employment and occupation in the commission's debate on the participation of women in economic life. Although the commission realised that as a general trend, discriminatory practices were disappearing. it was emphasised that there was still widespread discrimination, particularly against working, married women. Joint Taxation The commission requested the Economic and Social Council to take action concerning the system of joint taxation operating in many countries. This system, said the commission, discouraged many married women from seeking employment. So little was left after taxation that it was not worth while for wives to take up work. Moreover, some couples did not enter into legal marriage because they wished to escape the heavy taxation. It was suggested that either taxation should be fixed on an individual basis or that married couples be given the opportunity to elect to be taxed jointly or separately on their separate

incomes. It was also recognised that women should have freer access to the professions as architects, engineers, draftsmen and lawyers.

On the question of access to education, the commission decided that there should be no discrimination—the education pf boys and girls should be equal in law and in fact. In many countries it was noted that girl's still received an inferior education. Such subjects as cooking and household affairs ought not to deprive women of more equal education, said the commission. Finally it was observed that however bad illiteracy was among men and boys, women and girls had “an even worse deal.” Governments were accordingly urged to take more effective steps to eradicate illiteracy and introduce. wherever it does not exist, free and compulsory education.—From an article by Paul Cremona in the Christian Science Monitor.