MANILA - The United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) on Friday lauded the Philippines' passing of a law criminalizing child marriage, noting its importance as "another layer of protection" for children. In a statement, Unicef Philippines Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov said the passage of Republic Act 11596 or the "Prohibition of Child Marriage Law" strengthens the country's legal framework and protection of Filipino children. "(The law) underscores the commitment of the government as a state party to fully implement the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child," Dendevnorov said. Child marriage, she said, is a "human rights violation that can result in a lifetime of suffering," both for young girls and their children. "Girls who marry before turning 18 are less likely to remain in school and more likely to experience domestic violence and abuse," Dendevnorov said. Compared to women in their 20s, she said, young girls