The Facts
The consequenes of child marriage are ruinous. Married girls face health risks—including death—due to early pregnancy. Also, they are usually forced to quit their education. They sink deeper into poverty and are at greater risk of domestic and sexual violence. If child marriage continues at this rate, by 2050 there will be 1.2 billion women alive who married as children.
As Archbishop Desmond Tutu said, "The world is now blessed with the biggest generation of girls in history. By ending child marriage we can empower millions of girls to fulfill their potential and help transform communities on an unprecedented scale."
For Sharing
The Problem: 37 percent of girls marry by 18 and 10 percent marry before turning 15. It’s common for boys to marry, too. Girls are more likely than boys to do child labor. But when girls work, they miss school, and being out of school makes them more likely to be married off. A growing number of children are choosing to elope, often to escape deprivation or abuse. Child marriage often results in denial of education, serious health risks from early pregnancy, and domestic abuse. Our Advocacy: Nepal pledged to end child marriage by 2030. We’re asking the government to stop dragging its heels on creating an effective plan to end the practice. ACT NOW:Child Marriage in Nepal
Child Marriage in Tanzania
The Problem: Almost two out of every 5 girls are married before 18. Bride price perpetuates the practice. Married girls can be expelled from school and pregnant girls are often forced to drop out.
Our Advocacy: A court recently ruled that Tanzania must raise the legal marrying age to 18, but the government has appealed the ruling. We want the government to make 18 the minimum marriage age for girls and boys. We want schools to stop mandatory pregnancy testing, and we are pushing for all girls to have access to education.
ACT NOW: (English & Swahili)
Child Marriage in Bangladesh
The Problem: 52 percent of girls marry by age 18, and 18 percent before turning 15. Costs associated with education – like books and uniforms – cause girls to drop out of school, which drives child marriage. Local officials accept bribes to fake the age of child brides.
Our Advocacy: Bangladesh wants to end marriage before the age of 15 by 2021 and before age 18 by 2041. We want the government to to step away from a plan to lower girls’ marrying age from 18. We also want it to finish its long-promised action plan to end child marriage.
ACT NOW:
Child Marriage in Zimbabwe
The Problem: Nearly one-third of girls in Zimbabwe marry before their 18th birthday. Bride price, or the practice of a man paying a woman or girl’s family money or cattle to marry their daughter, fuels this.
Our Advocacy: In positive news, the government made 18 the new marriage age for girls and boys, and there is a proposed law banning bride price for girls under 18. We want Zimbabwe to repeal all remaining laws that allow for child marriage, and to create an action plan to stop child marriage.
ACT NOW:
Further Reading
>> Time ban child marriage Malaysia
>> Protecting Pakistans girls isn't blasphemy
>> Indonesia swims tide child marriage
>> Law ignored and another horror Afghanistan
>> Preventing Child Marriage in Malawi
>> Ending Child Marriage Starts by Knowing What Works
>> Africa Must Do More to End Child Marriage, Promote Education
>> Yes, #BringBackOurGirls. But Every Girl Matters
>> Why Keeping Girls in School Can Help South Sudan