These archaic sections corresponded to behavior originating in the colonial period, when virginity and the payment of dowries were valued as currency.

There was also the problem of a dowry being paid upon marriage, which the report stated was banned under Gabonese law, but which persisted as a custom in the country. Did the fact that it was paid, although it did not exist under civil law, make it an integral part of the marriage bonds? And if that was correct, could a husband refuse to let his wife divorce him unless she repaid the dowry?

She asked why the law was not enforced with regard to the payment of dowries, which was clearly incompatible with the law and discriminatory towards women.

Because all of my best school friends were getting dolled up to get married with a lot of dowry, and here I was with a tennis racket and going to school and doing all kinds of extracurricular activities.

Give to women their dowers willingly , but if they forego part of it themselves , then use it to your advantage .

And give the women their bridal money willingly then if they willingly give you a part of it , eat ( use ) it with joy and fruition .

And give the women their dowries as a gift spontaneous but if they are pleased to offer you any of it , consume it with wholesome appetite .

And give unto women dowries as a gift , and if of themselves they give up aught thereof unto you , then eat it in pleasure and profit .

And give to the women ( whom you marry ) their Mahr ( obligatory bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage ) with a good heart , but if they , of their own good pleasure , remit any part of it to you , take it , and enjoy it without fear of any harm ( as Allah has made it lawful ) .

Give women their dowries graciously . But if they willingly forego some of it , then consume it with enjoyment and pleasure .

Give women their bridal due in good cheer ( considering it a duty ) but if they willingly remit any part of it , consume it with good pleasure .

And give unto the women ( whom ye marry ) free gift of their marriage portions but if they of their own accord remit unto you a part thereof , then ye are welcome to absorb it ( in your wealth ) .

Give women their dowries , handing it over to them but if they remit anything of it of their own accord , then consume it as something lawful and wholesome .

Give women their dowries freely , but if they are pleased to offer you any of it , consume it good and smooth .

And give the women upon marriage their bridal gifts graciously . But if they give up willingly to you anything of it , then take it in satisfaction and ease .

Pay the women their dowry as though it were a gift . However , if they allow you to keep a part of it as a favor to you , you may spend it with pleasure .

And give women their dowries as a free gift , but if they of themselves be pleased to give up to you a portion of it , then eat it with enjoyment and with wholesome result .

And give the women their dowers willingly , but if they , of their own accord , remit any part of it to you , you may make use of it with pleasure and goodwill .

And give the women ( on marriage ) their dower as a free gift but if they , of their own good pleasure , remit any part of it to you , Take it and enjoy it with right good cheer .

The Committee had referred to Ordinance No. 63 69 on dowries not being applied, but the dowry was seen as a gesture without which parents would be reluctant to give their daughter in marriage.

Which, she wondered, was the actual minimum age for marriage, 18 or 21?

We need those in authority to take the law more seriously, but change will happen fastest when communities recognize that the economic and social value of educating girls outweighs their bride price.