Child marriage is defined as a formal or informal union before the age of 18. Child marriage is a practice that robs millions of girls of their childhood, their rights. Early child marriage in nigeria child marriage customs, a situation whereby children are given into marriage well before they attain puberty occur all over the world particularly in africa, asia, and south america. The causes, consequences and solutions to forced child. Based on thousands of surveys and interviews with parents, community leaders, and children in communities in all 3 countries, the report details the underlying causes of child marriage alongside a suite of recommendations for countering the endurance of early marriage. Girls became pregnant early in spite of maturity and led to maternal and child mortality rate. My testimony will show how and why forced child marriage is a pervasive. It is closely linked with poverty and low levels of economic development. While it affects both sexes, girls are more affected as they are the majority of the victims. It is both a symptom and a cause of ongoing development challenges, as the practice of child marriage further contributes to. High population raises the poverty level of the family. Child marriages in india the red elephant foundation december 20 e 4 introduction child marriage refers to the marriage of a child younger than 18 years old,1 in accordance to article 1 of the convention on the right of the child.
Protecting young girls from the dangers and horrors of child marriage is important but complicated to address because of the motivating economic factors. With respect to this context, child marriages happen to be an unsound institution. Its causes are multiple and overlapping and its effects are lifelong for the victims and their communities. Although boys are also subjected to early marriage in some parts of the world. Child marriage essay introduction causes impact solution slogan speech quotes child marriage essay introduction child marriage is one of the biggest human rights violations in the world.
The fact that it is still prevalent in india explains that it is a herculean task to devise measures to eradicate this social evil. Given the causes of early marriages, it is recommended that women in the atrisk group should be educated about the negative aspects of early marriages that women who have gotten married at an. Dowry the money the brides family pays to the groom is a big factor in child marriage. Ending child marriage report save the children usa. Child spouses in 2001, exploring both the reasons behind the perpetuation of child marriage and its harmful impact. The indian laws prohibits marriages where either the girl below 18 years of age or the boy has not attained 21 years of age. Health issues as giving birth at an early age is harmful for the girls health. If the present trend continues, 100 million girls will marry over the next decade. It is one of the causes which affect the lives of young girls.
In fact, child marriage has become more common in some areas. They believe that early marriage is like rice that when you placed it in your mouth and it is hot you will just emit it. A person who believes that marriage is easy can also caused early marriage. Child marriage often occurs in the shadows of poverty and gender inequality, impeding efforts to empower girls and boys and achieve longterm, sustainable development. A minor in a child marriage can be a girl or a boy, but the large majority of child marriages are between a girl and a man, and are rooted in gender inequality. The study aimed at asses the factors which contribute to early marriage among teenagers, it was to gather information on the extent, magnitude and consequences of early marriages in ubungo municipality, as a basis for raising awareness on how. For some families, early marriages are beneficial by providing family honor and protection from marrying young girls in the household to wealthy husbands. Malawi has committed to eliminate child, early and forced marriage by 2030 in line with target 5. The leading cause of forced early marriage is gender inequality, wherein girls and women are. People worry that the older a girl is, the more they will have to pay, so they marry girls early. Girls faced domestic violence from mother in law at. The causes and effects of early marriage his world. This digest looks at the reasons for the perpetuation of early marriage, and its possi ble increase in populations. House of representatives human rights commissions human rights commission.
Digging up the roots of child marriage helps us replant the future for millions of girls around the world. Hindrance to the educational aspect of the girl child. Most of the child marriage happens in rural or backward areas of the country. Zimbabwe has committed to eliminate child, early and forced marriage by 2030 in line with target 5. It is a big problem in indian society as the whole life of children, especially the girls, get disturbed due to this evil problem. Dotted line represents approximately the line of control in jammu and kashmir agreed upon by india and pakistan. Aug 04, 2014 girls in child marriages also have a greater risk of contracting hiv because they often marry older, richer men who have had more sexual partners. Owing to the above facts, early child marriage has currently become a vital topic of discussion amongst several development platforms which has made it more visible to many that were unaware of its existence. In the least developed countries, that number doubles 40 per cent of girls are married before age 18, and 12 per cent of girls are married before age 15. They may lack the resources to educate their daughters and their society may not offer incentives to protect girls from child marriage. While more women are now marrying at late ages, in many regions, early marriage remains the norms. Child marriage in africa often ends a girls education, exposes her to domestic violence and grave health risks from early childbearing and hiv, and traps her in poverty, human rights watch. Malawi cosponsored the 2017 human rights council resolution recognising the need to address child, early and forced marriage in humanitarian contexts.
To keep the traditions preserved is one of the primary tasks in many african countries. The effects of early girlchild marriage in mutasa district. Ending child marriage and meeting the needs of married. Early marriages often include some elements of force, otoooyortey and pobi 2003 the lack of an overarching definition of early marriage. Causes of child marriages include poverty, bride price, dowry, cultural traditions, laws that allow child marriages, religious and social pressures, regional customs, fear of the child remaining unmarried into adulthood, illiteracy, and perceived inability of women to work for money. Jan 08, 2019 early child marriage in nigeria child marriage customs, a situation whereby children are given into marriage well before they attain puberty occur all over the world particularly in africa, asia, and south america.
In many cases, a mixture of these causes results in the imprisonment of children in marriages. According to the 2014 zdhs, child marriage affects more girls than boys child marriage in zambia. Section ii details the reality of forced and early marriage, including the causes, risk factors, and consequences of these practices. According to le fever, quiroga and murphy 2004 noted that 2050 percent of women in developing countries are marred by the age of 18, with the highest percentages in sub. Abstract the problem of child marriages is quite common and pervasivepractice and an. Child marriage is a marriage or similar union, formal or informal, between an adult and a child or another child under age eighteen. In most cases, early marriages are not good for both sides of the relationships. We will analyze some reasons why early child marriage in nigeria is so common. When girls marry early, it reduces the likelihood that they will be able to complete their secondary education.
Families in poverty usually feel they have no alternative to child marriage. The above prevalence rate in mashonaland province triggered the investigation on the causes of child marriage which is also known as early marriage by the current researchers since zimbabwes overall child marriage rate stands at 30% while global rate is at 29% mashangwa, 2016. The causes, consequences and solutions to forced child marriage. Early marriages, adolescent and young pregnancies report by the secretariat 1. This practice, which is an affront to basic human rights for children and women alike, enjoys a status of legality with registration of marriages involving those below. Economic inequity is a major cause of child marriage, but child brides do not. Child marriage is the formal marriage of children who are below 18 years of age. Causes and consequences of child marriages in south asia. Each of the factors connected to early and child marriage cannot be understood in isolation. There is no statistically significant mean opinion difference between the ngo officers, health workers and young brides causes of early girl child marriages in the nigerian society. Despite laws against it, the practice remains widespread. Objectives of the study the study was guided by the following objectives.
Early motherhood is one of the most adverse effects of child marriage and often leads to the death of the young mother during child birth. A situation report on child marriages in zambia world. One of the crucial factors for preventing early marriage is raising of awareness of adolescents, their parents, families, and society about the issues such as risks of early marriage, family. Early marriages often include some elements of force, otoooyortey and pobi 2003 the lack of an overarching definition of early marriage in international conventions has generated some debate. They contract a marriage due to the customs inherent to their ancestors. This harmful practice can expose girls to violence, unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion, denying them their basic rights to childhood, with damaging impact on their education, health and economic prospects. Although child marriage has declined by 25% from 41. Early marriage in many parts of the world, early marriage is a longlasting tradition that has been preserved throughout centuries. They think they truly love each other and completely ignore the fact that both of them are going to grow more mature and. Ending child marriage requires action at all levels and across sectors to address the root causes of. Globally, one in every five girls is married, or in union, before reaching age 18. A qualitative study on the causes and consequences of.
To establish the effects of early girlchild marriage in samanga a ward. Child marriages are common in many cultures, and a child marriage can be an arranged affair or an informal partnership forged between two families. Given the causes of early marriages, it is recommended that women in the atrisk group should be educated. In chapter 1, we provide some background information on forced marriage, the gaps and shortcomings of existing literature, and a discussion on how this information is relevant to programmes aimed at eliminating this practice. Child marriages in india the red elephant foundation december 20 e 3 table of contents matter contained page number introduction 4 prevalence and impact of legislation on child marriages in india 6 law and policy targeting child marriage in india 8 why does child marriage still prevail in india. Child marriage is a widespread practice in subsaharan africa which leads to violation of human rights. Based on thousands of surveys and interviews with parents, community leaders, and children in communities in all 3 countries, the report details the underlying causes of child marriage alongside a suite of recommendations for countering the endurance of. The the causes, consequences and solutions to causes, consequences and solutions tocauses, consequences and solutions to forced forced forced child marriage child marriage child marriage in the developing worldin the developing world testimony submitted to u. Introduction marriage before the age of 18 is a reality for many young women. In many parts of the world parents encourage the marriage of their daughters while they are still children in hopes that the marriage will benefit them both financially and socially, while also. Poor families sell their children into marriage either to settle debts or to make some money and escape the cycle of poverty. Child marriage, according to international standards, is any form of union or marriage involving a party or parties below the age of 18.
A couple who married at an early age and lives happily is like a needle in a haystack. Too young, mentally and physically to become a mother, early motherhood puts the health of the mother and child in danger. In most of the countries the minimum legal age for the child marriage is 18 years. Mar 20, 2012 they believe that early marriage is like rice that when you placed it in your mouth and it is hot you will just emit it. Poverty and lack of education increase child marriage.
As we learn what leads people to marry their daughters and sons as children, we can address those causes to stop child marriage. Sure, most of the young age marriages happen in the poorer areas, mainly rural ones. Child marriage essay introduction causes impact imp days. The digest provides guidelines towards ending the practice of child marriage through changing attitudes within families and societies, expanding opportunities for education, offering appropriate support to. What is child marriage, its concepts and causes of child marriage. The prevalence of forced child marriage depends on the social, cultural, and political context of a society. Child, early and forced marriage has significant negative impacts on the futures of children, particularly girls. The overwhelming majority of child marriages, both. Parents who have girl child but dont earn much to give them a better life often choose early marriage of their children. Then factors which contribute to early marriage among teenagers in rural areas revealed to be. Some of the causes of early marriage in nigeria include conflict, poverty, religion. Khalid manzoor butt government college university, lahore.
Child marriage causes untold suffering to the victims. Child marriage is an end of the girl childs childhood. The most common and obvious causes would be pregnancy and puppy love. In many cases, a mixture of these causes results in the imprisonment of children in marriages without their consent. To identify factors leading to increased early girlchild marriages in samanga a ward of honde valley, in manicaland. Child marriage, domestic violence and choice of partner. Causes of child marriage child marriage has many causes. This research paper is intended to reveal the history of early marriages, its different causes and effects on the parties involved and in turn recommend ways to restrict, or rather eliminate, such practices.
Inadequate sex education, peer pressure, conformity, influence of mass media, lack of transparence, shame, traditional milestone, unemployment and globalization. From the research it is concluded that one cannot generalize all underlying causes of child marriage, but one must be aware of the specific. Background besides, the presence of national law, the country has to set up its own midterm and long term goals to bring about a significant reduction in child marriages in ethiopia. Girlchild marriage in the nigerian society, causes, impacts. Due to early age marriages girls suffer from unexpected and early age. However, the main negative influence falls on the young girls who are married off at tender ages. Pakistans perspective sofia naveed government college university, lahore. Asia child marriage initiative, was commissioned by plan international and ukbased research firm coram international. Early marriages research essay essays and articles. Child marriage continues to be a challenge worldwide and especially in southern asia and africa. Child marriage unfpa united nations population fund. Some of the causes of early marriage in nigeria include conflict, poverty, religion, and tradition. One of our key priorities is to learn what causes child marriage. Sep 10, 2015 zambia has one of the highest child marriage rates in the world with 42% of women aged 2024 years married by the age of 18.
A temptation to your partner is caused by the neglectful parents and leads their child to a rebellious stage. In january 2012, the executive board at its th session considered an earlier version of this report. There is no statistically significant mean different in the opinions of female and male respondents to the causes of early girl child marriage in the nigerian. This map does not reflect a position by unicef on the legal status of any country or territory or the delimitation of any front iers. New evidence on child marriage causes and solutions plan. Nov 25, 2015 child marriage in africa often ends a girls education, exposes her to domestic violence and grave health risks from early childbearing and hiv, and traps her in poverty, human rights watch said. Child marriage is a major barrier to progress on girls education.
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