Diversifying propaganda, Ia Lap resolutely pushes back early marriage and consanguineous marriage

Step by step pushing back early marriage and consanguineous marriage

In recent years, the situation of early marriage and consanguineous marriage has still existed in some localities in ethnic minority areas, causing many serious consequences for health, population quality and socio-economic development.

Faced with this situation, the People's Committee of Ia Lap commune (Dak Lak province) has implemented many practical propaganda activities, contributing to raising people's awareness, gradually pushing back early marriage and consanguineous marriage in the area.

Currently, the whole commune has 1,914 households with 6,446 people; of which, ethnic minorities account for 938 households, with 3,331 people.

Ia Lap is a border commune, with a large number of ethnic minorities, economic life is still difficult, and the education level is not uniform.

A part of the people are still affected by outdated customs and practices, such as the concept of "getting married, getting married early to have more people to work in the fields" or getting married within the family line to "keep property, keep land".

Sharing about the change in people's awareness, Ms. Ha Thi Phe, Deputy Head of Dung Nhap village ( Iaiap commune) said that about 5 years ago, some households in the village still had the idea of having their children start a family early to have children and have more human resources to work. A few families still maintain consanguineous marriages in the family line.

However, thanks to the gradual improvement of socio-economic conditions, the development of transport infrastructure, information and communication, along with the active participation of grassroots cadres and local authorities in propaganda work, the awareness of the people has changed significantly. By 2025, the village had eliminated two outdated, dangerous and harmful customs for this society."

Diversifying propaganda methods

Recognizing the long-term consequences of early marriage and consanguineous marriage, the People's Committee of Ia Lap commune identified propaganda and mobilization as a key solution. On that basis, the locality has developed a specific plan, integrating propaganda content into socio-economic development programs in the area.

Sharing about the commune's methods, Mr. Bui Tien Hoat, Vice Chairman of Ia Lap Commune People's Committee, said that one of the highlights is to promote the role of grassroots cadres.

Judicial officers - civil status, cultural - social officers, population collaborators, youth unions, women's unions regularly go to villages and hamlets, implementing the motto "go to every alley, knock on every door", directly meeting families with children in their teenage years.

Through close and easy-to-understand exchanges, grassroots officials clearly analyzed the provisions of the law on marriage age, and pointed out serious consequences such as affecting reproductive health, the risk of birth defects, poverty, dropping out of school... caused by early marriage and consanguineous marriage.

Along with that, the commune focuses on diversifying forms of propaganda. The loudspeaker system of communes and villages and hamlets regularly broadcasts concise, easy-to-remember messages in both common and ethnic languages.

The locality also coordinates with schools to organize propaganda for students, helping them clearly understand their rights and obligations, know how to protect themselves and nurture dreams and ambitions for the future.

"In the coming time, we will continue to persevere, be determined and implement appropriate measures to raise people's awareness, gradually push back early marriage and consanguineous marriage. Thereby, building the Ia Lap community to develop sustainably, civilly and progressfully, Mr. Hoat emphasized.