Child ProtCtion in For MAtioSheet Child marriage is a violation of human rights whether it happens to a girl or a boy, but it represents perhaps the most prevalent form of sexual abuse and exploitation of girls.

Child ProtCtion in For MAtioSheet

Child marriage is a violation of human rights whether it happens to a girl or a boy, but it represents

perhaps the most prevalent form of sexual abuse

and exploitation of girls.

the harmful consequences

include separation from family and friends, lack of

freedom to interact with peers and participate in

community activities, and decreased opportunities for education. Child marriage can also result

in bonded labour or enslavement, commercial

sexual exploitation and violence against the victims.

Because they cannot abstain from sex or insist on

condom use, child brides are often exposed to such

serious health risks as premature pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and, increasingly,

hiV/AidS.

Parents may consent to child marriages out of

economic necessity. Marriage may be seen as a way

to provide male guardianship for their daughters,

protect them from sexual assault, avoid pregnancy

outside marriage, extend their childbearing years or

ensure obedience to the husband’s household.

Facts and

Figures

•

Globally, 36 per cent of women aged 20–24 were

married or in union before they reached 18 years

of age.

1

•

An estimated 14 million adolescents between 15

and 19 give birth each year. Girls in this age group

are twice as likely to die during pregnancy or

childbirth as women in their twenties.

2

•

Marriage of young girls is most common in sub-

Saharan Africa and South Asia. in niger, 77 per cent of 20- to 24-year-old women were married

before the age of 18.

in Bangladesh, this rate was 65 per cent. BuiLding a PrOtect iV en VirOnMent FOr children government commitmentand capacity the role of government and civil-society institutions is to develop and implement systems to prevent or discourage this practice. Government action is required to review customary and civil law. Because

child marriage is closely associated with poverty, government commitment to poverty reduction is likely to lead to a decrease in child marriages. Legislation and enforcementGovernments need to establish 18 as the legal age of marriage for girls, as well as boys, and ensure its implementation. Promoting birth and marriage registration will help enforce these laws.

attitudes, customs and practicesending child marriage is challenging because even parents who understand its negative impact may find it hard to resist economic and societal pressures and traditions. Addressing attitudes and customs that promote or condone the practice is vital to changing the acceptable age for marriage. Open discussionMarriage is regardedas a private subject in many cultures. Communication campaigns can help create circumstances in which it can be discussed and traditional beliefs about marriage can be examined. to foster behavioural change from within

communities, human rights should be emphasized,

child Marriage

human rights the right to free and full consent to a marriage is recognized in the

universal declaration of human rights(1948) with the recognition that consent cannot be ‘free and full’ when one of

the parties involved is not sufficiently mature to make an informed decision about a life partner.

the convention on the elimination of all Forms of discrimination against Women(1979) states that the betrothal and marriage of a child shall

have no legal effect and all necessary action, including legislation, shall be taken to specify a minimum age of marriage. the Committee on the elimination of discrimination against Women recommends this age to be 18.particularly those of women – including equality,

access to education and freedom from exploitation and discrimination.children’s life skills, knowledge and participation

expanding children’s knowledge and empowerment is crucial, particularly for girls. educated girls are less likely to agree to marry at a young age. Attempts to close gender gaps in education can include the establishment of child-friendly schools, cash incentives for parents and the expansion of non-formal education.capacity of families and communitiesCommunity-level women’s organizations need support to act as effective advocates and educators. human rights-based development and education programmes can create dynamics leading to a change in customs,hierarchies and prejudices linked to the tradition of child marriage.essential services, including prevention, recovery and reintegrationCounselling services on abuse, reproductive health and protection from hiV infection are imperative

for young girls. Girls who run away from marria-ges need emergency support, as do those running away from parents forcing them into an unwanted marriage. Monitoring, reporting and oversight demographic health Surveys and Multiple indicator Cluster Surveys collect valuable data on prevalence and reasons for child marriage. Community-level monitoring systems can also help record frequency of child marriage. Marriage registration should be promoted.exaMPLes OFuniceF in action globally one way UniCeF is addressing the issue of child marriage is through the promotion of girls’ education.

research has shown that higher levels of education for girls prevent child marriage

3

.

UniCeF is the lead agency for the United nations Girls’

education initiative, which works to ensure that by 2015, all children everywhere will be able to complete primary schooling.

in Bangladesh UniCeF has been supporting Kishori Abhijan, a project promoting the rights of adolescent girls and combating rights violations such as child marriage and dowry. the project provides education, training and links to economic activities for networks of adolescent girls to help them gain livelihood skil