CHILD MARRIAGE

 Child marriage is a widespread issue that is fueled by gender inequality, poverty, social norms, and insecurity, and has devastating consequences worldwide. To learn more about the extent and impact of child marriage and the progress made towards ending it, explore the information provided here.

The act of child marriage is a clear violation of human rights, yet it remains a prevalent issue. When a child is married before the age of 18, it is a fundamental breach of their rights. Various factors contribute to the risk of child marriage, such as poverty, the belief that marriage provides protection, family honor, social norms, customary or religious laws that condone the practice, inadequate legislation, and the state of a country's civil registration system. Regardless of gender, child marriage is a violation of rights.

Cohabitation, where a couple lives together as if married, raises similar human rights concerns as marriage. When a couple cohabitates, it is often assumed that they are adults, even if one or both have not yet reached the age of 18. Children in informal unions may face additional concerns due to the informality of the relationship, such as inheritance, citizenship, and social recognition.

Child marriage refers to both formal marriages and informal unions where a child lives with a partner as if married before the age of 18. An informal union is a lasting relationship in which a couple lives together without a formal civil or religious ceremony.

The root causes of child marriage include gender inequality and the belief that girls and women are inferior to boys and men. Poverty, lack of education, harmful social norms and practices, and insecurity exacerbate the issue. Child marriage occurs across countries, cultures, religions, and ethnicities. There is no single solution, actor, or sector to end it, and solutions must be local, contextual, and integrated.

Child marriage violates girls’ rights to health, education, and opportunity. Girls who marry before the age of 18 are more likely to have early pregnancies, experience dangerous complications in pregnancy and childbirth, acquire HIV, and experience domestic violence. Ending child marriage will improve the health of millions of girls and their children. When a girl gets married, she is often expected to drop out of school to look after the home, children, and extended family, making it difficult for her to return to school or access paid employment.

Ending child marriage and guaranteeing girls’ rights means a fairer, more secure, and prosperous future for everyone. Girls Not Brides advocates for child marriage laws, policies, and programs that empower girls and their communities and is committed to supporting and promoting meaningful inclusion of youth in the collective efforts to end child marriage.