2. • CHILD MARRIAGE IS DEFINED AS A MARRIAGE OF A GIRL
OR BOY BEFORE THE AGE OF 18 AND REFERS TO BOTH
FORMAL MARRIAGES AND INFORMAL UNIONS IN WHICH
CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 LIVE WITH A PARTNER
AS IF MARRIED. CHILD MARRIAGE AFFECTS BOTH GIRLS
AND BOYS, BUT IT AFFECTS GIRLS
DISPROPORTIONATELY, ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH ASIA.
• CHILD MARRIAGE ROBS GIRLS OF THEIR CHILDHOOD
AND THREATENS THEIR LIVES AND HEALTH. GIRLS WHO
MARRY BEFORE 18 ARE MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND LESS LIKELY TO REMAIN IN
SCHOOL. THEY HAVE WORSE ECONOMIC AND HEALTH
OUTCOMES THAN THEIR UNMARRIED PEERS, WHICH ARE
EVENTUALLY PASSED DOWN TO THEIR OWN CHILDREN,
FURTHER STRAINING A COUNTRY’S CAPACITY TO
PROVIDE QUALITY HEALTH AND EDUCATION SERVICES.
• CHILD BRIDES OFTEN BECOME PREGNANT DURING
ADOLESCENCE, WHEN THE RISK OF COMPLICATIONS
DURING PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH INCREASES – FOR
THEMSELVES AND THEIR INFANTS. THE PRACTICE CAN
ALSO ISOLATE GIRLS FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND
EXCLUDE THEM FROM PARTICIPATING IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES, TAKING A HEAVY TOLL ON THEIR
PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING.
3. HIGHEST CHILD
MARRIAGE RATE IN
THE WORLD.
ACCORDING TO
RECENT DATA, IN THIS
WEST AFRICAN
COUNTRY 75 PERCENT
OF GIRLS AGED UNDER
18 WERE MARRIED,
WITH 36 PERCENT OF
THEM BEING YOUNGER
THAN 15 YEARS OLD.
CHAD, BANGLADESH,
AND GUINEA HAD
RATES RANGING FROM
63 PERCENT TO 68
PERCENT.
Gender inequality,
social norms,
perceived low status
of girls, poverty, lack
of education, safety
concerns about girl
children and control
over sexuality are
considered to be
reasons for
prevalence of child
marriages. Girl
children in rural areas
are more affected
than their urban
counterparts.
The child brides suffer
from high rates of
obstetric
complications, pregnanc
y induced hypertension,
higher mortality rates,
premature delivery, high
incidence of
miscarriages and
stillbirths.
Child marriage ends
childhood. It negatively
influences children's rights to
education, health and
protection. ... A girl who is
married as a child is more
likely to be out of school and
not earn money and contribute
to the community. She is more
likely to experience domestic
violence and become infected
with HIV/AIDS.
Child marriage is
common. It takes
place in every corner
of the world. More
than 650 million
women and girls alive
today were married
before their 18th
birthday. Globally, 21
per cent of young
women, 20-24 years
(Only six countries –
Equatorial Guinea,
Gambia, Saudi Arabia,
Somalia, South Sudan
and Yemen – do not
specify a minimum age
for marriage.) However,
almost two thirds of the
countries (117) allow
children to marry. Even
in countries that
