This is worth trying but (especially if posturing is the motive)
outlawing polygamy won't end it as a socially acceptable practice. The
beneficiaries of patriarchy will conspire to see that such a law becomes
a dead letter, just like the law that prescribes the death sentence for
defiling a minor. A well planned universal primary education will do
much more towards ending polygamy. In the best of worlds (where we can
afford everything we want), a mix of policies including at its core a
law that outlaws polygamy and an aggressive promotion of female
education would be the way to go.
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Time to end polygamy( THE NEW VISION)
THE United Nations Human Rights Committee has asked the government to
outlaw polygamy. The UN argues that polygamy is incompatible with the
constitutional requirement for equal treatment of men and women.
The UN statement came in reaction to the governmentâs White Paper
proposing various amendments to the constitution.
Yesterday was St Valentineâs Day, which celebrates the ideal of
romantic monogamous love. This may seem unrealistic amid the grinding
struggle of daily life in the countryside, or the crass materialism of
the cities. Nevertheless, it should give us cause for further
reflection on the UNâs proposal.
Polygamy is unacceptable for a multitude of reasons.
Firstly, it is indeed discriminatory. Men are legally permitted to
take more than one wife, but not women.
Secondly, it is very unusual to find children of polygamous marriages
who are happy with the arrangement. Most polygamous children suffer,
in some way, from neglect.
Thirdly, most polygamous men cannot afford to support their additional
wives and children. They increase human suffering.
Fourthly, it should be the human right of all Ugandan children to
continue education as far as they are capable. Regrettably, the state
cannot yet afford to pay for secondary and tertiary education, so the
responsibility falls to the parents. Yet how many polygamous children
get the chance to complete university?
Fifthly, it perpetuates Ugandaâs rampant population growth.
Sixthly, if the government conducted an opinion poll of women and
children of polygamous marriages, there would almost certainly be a
huge majority in favour of abolition.
Government should not worry about religious or cultural
discrimination. Polygamy is almost unheard of in advanced Islamic
countries like Iran or Egypt. It is considered outdated and backward,
even within Islam. Nor would it fundamentally undermine African
culture to eliminate polygamy.
Government should take note of the UN recommendation and advance
legislation to end polygamy in Uganda. Men should only be allowed to
marry one wife.
*Ends*
Published on: *Tuesday, 15th February, 2005*
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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