DUSHANBE, May 19, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Deputies of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) have endorsed amendments to the country’s family code requiring raising the minimum marriage age for woman to 18.

A regular sitting of the Majlisi Namoyandagon, presided over by its chairman, Shukurjon Zuhurov, was held on May 19.

Presenting the bill on amendments to the family code, MP Khairinisso Yusufi noted that amendments were aimed at ensuring observance of women’s rights to obtain education, implementation of separate points of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as well as giving young women an opportunity to prepare themselves for beginning the world.

MP Muhiddin Kabiri, who is leader of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan (IRPT), inquired about the fate of some initiatives proposed by Ms. Yusufi when she had been chairperson of the Committee for Family and Women’s Affairs.  “You have proposed several times to include obligatorness of conclusion of marriage agreement to the family code that could protect rights of women in case of divorce,” Kabiri said.

Khairinisso Yusufi noted that relevant instances were currently considering her proposals and expressed hope that appropriate amendments would also be made to the family code in the near future.      

Shukurjon Zuhurov noted that amendments requiring the higher marriage age for women would take effect on January 1, 2011.

The current minimum marriage age in Tajikistan is 17 for women and 18 for men.  These ages were included in the 1994 constitution during Tajikistan''s civil war.  

We will recall that in April, in his annual address to parliament, President Emomali Rahmon proposed to raise the minimum marriage age for women to 18.  The president said that would give young people a better opportunity to complete their education and prepare themselves for raising families.