DHAKA: The Embassy of Switzerland and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Bangladesh signed a partnership agreement Wednesday for continuing a media campaign to end child marriage in Bangladesh. 

The agreement, signed in the Embassy of Switzerland in Dhaka, came as a follow-up of a partnership which commenced in 2013 and is part of a national initiative to end child marriage.

A press release was issued in this regard.

It said, “The media campaign aims to produce and air six episodes of animated cartoons to increase awareness of consequences of child marriage among the adolescents and youth in both rural and urban areas of Bangladesh.”

Though the practice of child marriage is slowly decreasing, over the last 30 years, it remains unacceptably high in the country, especially so in rural areas and urban slums, and particularly among rural, poor and less educated girls. 

The release also said, “The reasons behind early marriage in Bangladesh stem from traditional norms and their concomitant social pressure on families and girls. Poverty is a major underpinning factor encouraging child marriage in Bangladesh. 

Young girls are often considered as an economic burden by their families and their marriage to an older man and into another family is often a family survival strategy in order to obtain financial security.”

Argentina Matavel Piccin, UNFPA Representative in Bangladesh and the Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Christian Fotsch signed the agreement for respective parties.

The total budget for production and airing of this project is approximately US$ 150,000, of which the contribution from Switzerland is 40,000 Swiss Francs (approx. US$ 44,543) and UNFPA will contribute US$ 105,457. 

BDST: 1600 HRS, JUN 25, 2014