o during her marriage, a woman shall have the right to acquire her own property and to administer and manage it freely. Noting also that Article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides that – (1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution. (2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses; Aware that Article 16(2) of the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) provides thatThe betrothal and marriage of a child shall have no legal effect, and all necessary action, including legislation, shall be taken to specify a minimum age for marriage and to make the registration of marriages in an official registry compulsory; Noting further that in its General Recommendation 29 concerning equality in marriage, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination of Against Women affirmed that identity-based personal status laws and customs perpetuate discrimination against women and that the preservation of multiple legal systems is in itself discriminatory against women; Acknowledging that the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, its Causes and Consequences has expressed concern over personal laws’ discriminatory provisions on the dissolution of marriage and maintenance provisions, which cause many women to stay Page 23 of 78