Child Marriage: Girls Should Enjoy Their Childhood, Not Their Motherhood.
To get rid of the child’s responsibility amid all the straining economic circumstances the family is encountering, families tend to marry off their daughters at a very young age.
By Mirna Fahmy
Child Marriage Percentage Rate is High.
Child marriage remains a significant global issue, with approximately 12 million girls married before the age of 18 each year, translating to about 22 girls every minute. Currently, around 650 million women alive today were married as children, highlighting the long-term impact of this practice. The prevalence of child marriage varies widely across different regions, with the highest rates found in Niger (76%), followed by countries like Chad, the Central African Republic, and Bangladesh, where rates exceed 50%.
Sources: World Vision, UN
Reasons for Child Marriage.
Child marriage is an ancient issue tracing back from Colonial times to today and points to poor rural areas of the country, where the practice has always been more common than wealthy urban areas. Poverty is a prime factor, whereas many families in impoverished communities view marrying off daughters as a way to alleviate financial burdens. This can include reducing the number of mouths to feed or receiving a bride price. Cultural norms are another factor, as in many societies there is a strong belief that early marriage protects girls from premarital sexual activity and provides social stability. However, this often places them at greater risk of domestic violence and health complications. In conflict zones, child marriage is considered high, such as among Syrian refugees, as families may marry off daughters at young ages as a perceived means of protection or economic security amidst instability.
Sources: World Vision, UN, NRC, Colorado Public Radio
Health and Social Consequences.
Child marriage has severe implications for the health and well-being of young girls. Girls who marry young face higher risks during pregnancy and childbirth. Complications from these can lead to significant maternal mortality rates among adolescents aged 15–19 in developing countries. Child brides often drop out of school to fulfil domestic responsibilities or care for children, perpetuating cycles of poverty and limiting their future opportunities. In the documentary entitled “Girls: Women Too Early” by Paolo Patruno, it narrates the story of two adolescent female marriages in Africa. A 17-year-old girl named Christine got married when she was 15, lost her first child when she was 16, and she is now seven months pregnant. Rose, 16 years old, who dropped out of school at the end of primary six, is currently breastfeeding her first child of five months. Both girls were forced into early marriage due to their lack of financial resources. From a social perspective, early marriage can lead to isolation from peers and family support networks, hindering personal development and affecting mental health.
Sources: UN, Colorado Public Radio
Child Marriage is Becoming Law.
Despite the sheer efforts exerted to ban child marriage of girls across the globe, there are still countries that work hard to legalise child marriage. In Iraq, the parliament lawmakers are pushing forward an amendment that would legalise the girls’ marriage at 9 years old and boys’ marriage at 15 years old. There has been widespread protest and condemnation in Iraq against such a proposal because it will incite unwanted consequences like women’s rights regarding divorce and inheritance. According to the Iraqi lawmakers, the 9-year-old girl is old enough to be in a wedding dress but not old enough to drive a car, vote, or hold a job. In Afghanistan, there is a similar scenario. Since the Taliban regained control in August 2021, child marriages have reportedly increased by approximately 25%. Many families, facing dire economic conditions and a lack of educational opportunities for girls due to the Taliban’s ban on secondary education, feel compelled to marry off their daughters at younger ages.
Sources: Human Rights Watch, El Pais, Radio Free Europe
International and Local Activism .
Since the establishment of the United Nations (UN), there have been many efforts and activism by many connected organisations and campaigns like UNICEF, UNFPA, and WHO that are actively involved in promoting policies that protect girls’ rights and provide education on the harmful effects of early marriage. Carried out by the UN, there are 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence calling for an end to violence against women and girls (VAWG). It runs from 25th November (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) until 10th December, Human Rights Day.
Girls Not Brides is also a global partnership, including over 1,500 civil society organisations working across more than 100 countries to end child marriage. They focus on advocacy, raising awareness, and mobilising resources to support local efforts to combat child marriage.
Sources: WHO, UN Women, Girls Not Brides
“Say NO to child marriage. A little girl is still a child. She cannot be a mother or a bride,”
– Angélique Kidjo, Beninese-French singer-songwriter and actress
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