write essay on child marriages

Child Marriage: The Devastating End of Childhood

The devastation of child marriage effectively ends a girl’s childhood. How? Forced marriage robs a girl of her education and more, replacing lessons learned in the classroom with adult responsibilities, including forced pregnancy, well before she’s ready. This not only violates her rights, but risks her life, the lives of her children and the future of her community.

Tragically, about 40 million girls worldwide are currently married or in a union – and without our help, an estimated 150 million girls will be married in the next decade. This is unacceptable.

Read more about the issues, Save the Children’s impact – and how you can help end child marriage.

What is child marriage?

Asha, 19, found out that her family were making arrangements for her wedding when she was 15. The union had been agreed when she was 3 years old. She enlisted the Children’s Group and Child Protection Committee to lobby her father who eventually gave in and stopped the marriage. She has since helped other girls stop their marriages and has continued her education.

Child marriage is formal or informal union before age 18. It is a violation of children’s human rights  and a form of gender-based violence that robs children of childhood. Child marriage also  disrupts their education and drives vulnerability to violence, discrimination and abuse.

Yet these are some of today’s tragic child marriage statistics:

•  About 40 million girls ages 15-19 are currently married or in a union worldwide.
• Each year, some 12 million more girls will marry before reaching age 18 – and of those, 4 million are under age 15.
• Save the Children’s Global Girlhood Report estimates that an additional 2.5 million girls are at risk of child marriage globally between 2020 and 2025, as a result of reported increases in all types of gender-based violence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• We project that up to 15 million girls and boys will never return to school following pandemic lockdowns and school closures. Children who don’t come back are at greater risk of early marriage, child labor and recruitment into armed forces.
• By 2030, it’s estimated that 150 million girls will lose their childhoods due to child marriage.

What are the effects of child marriage?

Rizwana inside the the temporary shelters that she calls home. Rizwana had several difficult years but was assisted through them by Save the Children to better educate her family and avoid attempts of child marriage and child labor and eventually continue with her education.

Early marriage has devastating consequences for a girl’s life. Effectively, child marriage ends her childhood. Girls are forced into adulthood before they are physically and mentally ready. Child brides are frequently deprived of their rights to health, education, safety and participation. What’s more, an arranged marriage often means a girl is forced to wed an, at times significantly, older man.

Girls married young are far less likely to stay in school, with lifelong economic impacts. They are often isolated, with their freedom curtailed. They are at higher risk of physical and sexual violence. Child brides are also at greater risk of experiencing dangerous complications in pregnancy and childbirth, contracting HIV/AIDS and suffering domestic violence.

What are the effects of forced pregnancy?

“At the age of thirteen I was forced to marry a man who was much older than me," says 15-year old Aisha, seen here with her two-year old daughter. "I lived with him for awhile but we couldn’t get along because he was so much older than me.

Every year, around 17 million girls give birth. Forced pregnancy and childbearing at a young age, often a result of child marraige, when a girl’s body is not physically mature enough to deliver without complications, can also lead to devastating consequences.

Complications during pregnancy and childbirth represent the number one killer of girls ages 15-19 worldwide. And babies born to adolescent mothers face a substantially higher risk of dying, with a higher likelihood of low birth weight, malnutrition and underdevelopment. Young mothers are far less likely to be in school, and therefore more likely to struggle economically.

Where around the world does child marriage happen?

Amina* was 15 when child marriage threatened to ruin her life. Her father lost his income during COVID-19 lockdown and the family struggled to survive. Amina’s father received a marriage proposal for her and he agreed as the money the family would receive would help solve their financial problems. However, Amina’s mother was furious and went to Save the Children for help. Together they persuaded Amina’s father to reject the marriage offer and to continue her education.

Child marriage is a global problem and is compounded by poverty.  Child marriage is a problem that cuts across countries, cultures, religions and ethnicities. Child brides can be found in every region in the world. Major factors that place a girl at risk of marriage include poverty, especially in rural areas, as well as weak laws and enforcement, the perception that marriage will provide “protection,” customs or religious laws, and unequal gender norms.

In Africa, an estimated 12 million girls are still married each year . Despite worldwide progress in reducing child marriage and pregnancy, these are the countries with the highest child marriage rates:  Niger , Central African Republic,  Mali ,  Mozambique , and  South Sudan .

Why do child marriage rates rise during conflict?

Kadidia*, 14, and her parents were determined that the violence sweeping Africa’s Sahel region – including her homeland Mali – wasn’t going to end her chances of completing her education.

Conflict increases the inequalities that make girls vulnerable to child marriage – and its consequences. Families may arrange marriages for girls, believing marriage will protect their daughters from violence by strangers or armed groups, as well as to ease financial burdens on the family.

For example, child marriage rates have risen in war-ravaged Yemen , one of the few countries in the world without a legal minimum age for marriage. Now more than two-thirds of Yemen’s girls are married before age 18, compared to half before the conflict escalated.

Child marriage is also a growing concern among refugee children, including those from Myanmar and the Central African Republic.

How is Save the Children is a world leader in ending child marriage?

Rizwana’s leadership skills led her to being selected as a Save the Children Youth Champion, and through the additional support she has received through the Youth Champion program, she has continued to advocate for children’s education, the end of child marriage, and financial independence for vulnerable children and youth.

Thanks to compassionate supporters like you, Save the Children has championed equal rights for every child for over 100 years. We helped reduce child marriage worldwide by nearly one-third since 1990 – that’s tens of millions more girls empowered to stay in school or transition to work, and make marriage and motherhood decisions for themselves.

Save the Children puts gender equality at the heart of all we do. Every day, right from the start, we work to empower girls to stay in school, delay marriage and acquire the life and livelihood skills needed to successfully transition to adulthood. We work with girls and boys, families, communities and countries to change harmful gender norms and laws. Plus we empower girls to speak up, lead and succeed. We are the leading advocate for U.S. investment in girls’ leadership around the world.

In addition, Save the Children is proud to be the first nonprofit to be Gender Fair-certified for our commitment to advancing gender equality and empowering the world’s girls.

When you support Save the Children – whether it’s by donating, advocating or participating in an event challenge – you’re helping bridge the gap between the challenges girls face, like child marriage, and the futures they deserve. You’re helping ensure all children have equal opportunities to grow up healthy, educated and safe.  

Together, we can change children’s lives – ultimately, transforming the future we all share.

**Sources: Unless otherwise noted, facts and statistics have been sourced from Save the Children’s program and monitoring and evaluation experts, as well as published reports , including our gender equality reports . 

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Essay on Child Marriage in India

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Child marriage in India is still a prevalent practice. So far, we can’t seem to overcome the dark reality of child marriage in India. In a layman’s language, child marriage in India means involving a boy and girl to get into the marital bond, with or without their consent.

Audience: The below given essays are exclusively written for school students (Class 7, 8, 9 and 10 standard) and college students. Furthermore, those students preparing for competitive exams like IAS, IPS, Civil Services and UPSC can also increase their knowledge by reading these essays.

Child marriage in India is one of the most baffling of all problems which the Indian society faces. There was a time when most children were married at a very premature age. There have been several instances wherein children less than 10 years of age got married. They barely understood the meaning of marriage and yet they were tied to a bond they could do nothing about.

Causes of Child Marriage in India:

In earlier times, Child marriage in India was an age old tradition. Some of the many other causes of Child Marriage in India include poverty, illiteracy, social pressure, etc.

The Perils of Child Marriage in India:

Of course, child marriage in India is filled with too many perils. A lot of innocent lives were lost and children who should be taught the basics of education ended up being chained to family pressure. This affected the children mentally as well as physically.

The Remedial Measures:

The right thing to do is to create awareness about this issue. If we want to solve the problem of child marriage in India, we should educate both parents and children and encourage them to be independent first and then look for a partner only after attaining a certain age. Laws should also be put in place in order to get rid of this social issue.

Conclusion:

Children of today are the future of tomorrow. They must be provided with proper education in order to build a strong nation. It’s time to put an end to Child Marriage in India.

Introduction:

Child Marriage in India basically originated to prevent the girl child from being taken away by the conquerors of the nation. Child Marriage means that a girl or a boy gets betrothed to her partner even as a child purely at the consent of the parents. Even though the lawful age for a person to be married is set at 18 by UNICEF, it is not practiced in many places.

Reasons & Consequences:

Two primary reasons for Child Marriages in India is lack of education and poverty . The appalling consequences of child marriages include pregnancy- related deaths , child mothers not able to provide proper infant care, subjected to domestic violence .

Government & Laws:

Although there were laws in existence since 1929 to protect children from Child Marriages in India, it is unfortunate that “Allowance of Child Marriages without police Intervention” is being announced as Election promises in this Country. Every Citizen in this country has a role to protect and uphold the future citizens, the now Children. Many Government programs such as ApniBeti, Apna Dhan (ABAD), which translates to “My daughter, My wealth,” focus on delaying the Child marriages in India. Balika Vadhu one of the most watched melo-drama, showcased how Child Marriages are a bane to human race and the country.

As a dutiful citizen, each of us should make the children understand their human rights . Create awareness and give the child appropriate contact information to seek contacts when their cry of refusal is denied ears. This would therefore abolish child marriage in India and create a safe environment to nurture the future of the country.

Marriage is a very responsible and sacred way of uniting two people who are matured and ready to accept each other. But child marriage in India is something that is a really unethical way of uniting people, who are not only immature but also does not understand the real responsibility behind the phenomenon.

Indian law has assigned a minimum age of eighteen for girls and twenty-one for boys to legally get married. This law was passed due to the increased reporting of child marriages in India. While at one side everyone is trying to make the most out of our nation’s growth, at the other side it is too much annoying to think how children are getting mislead to lead a responsible life at their childhood.

Mainly girl children are forced to fall into child marriage in India as they are discriminated in the society because of their gender. Child marriages in India were considered by parents as a way of saving their child from abuses and other difficulties they face from the outside world. But on the other hand child marriage in India is a real spoiler of a kid’s childhood. They get on with handling more responsibilities than they even know about and many cases have been reported against this child marriage in India.

They are forced to live a life they don’t have any idea about due to this inhuman child marriage in India. The girl child is made to move out of her own house at such a young age due to child marriage in India, and live completely among strangers. She is forced to do all the household chores and other more difficult responsibilities. Child marriage in India ruins a child’s life.

Domestic violence and forced sexual abuses are also major problems due to child marriage in India. Not only girls but boys are also forced for such inhumanity. Child marriage in India is more dominant in rural areas where proper education and awareness should be spread to stop this cruelty.

Child Marriage in India is a centuries old tradition. When the 1921 census reported 600 brides in the age group of one to twelve months, Mahatma Gandhi was shocked. He became instrumental in introducing the Sarda Act or the Child Marriage Restraint Act in 1929. That was the first step taken against child marriage in India. It fixed the age of marriage for girls at 14 years and boys at 18 years. Since then many reformers and stakeholders have been advocating against child marriage in India.

Since bygone days, the dignity and reputation of families in India were heavily dependent on the chastity of their daughters. To uphold the honour, child marriage in India was prevalent at a tender age before puberty.

Due to poverty, many poor parents wished to see off their daughters through marriage at early years. Some even received monetary benefits from the groom’s family in lieu of marriage. Further, poor families also found it cheaper to conduct child marriages than adult marriages.

So, the various reasons for child marriage in India include tradition, poverty, illiteracy and social pressures.

The victims of child marriage in India are often uneducated. They do not have a broad view of their life with respect to the world. So, they often tend to pass this tradition to future generations, out of ignorance.

Due to the early marriage, these children often experience unprecedented responsibilities, suffer discontinuation of education, deterioration of health etc. Since they are physically and psychologically not ready for a married life, their childhood is frustrated with hardships of life.

Prevention:

The latest effort to prevent child marriage in India is the landmark judgment of the Supreme Court in October 2017. All along, men who raped their minor wives were protected by the law. But, according this latest judgment, sexual act with a child bride has been criminalised. This is a definite step to curb child marriage in India.

Since 2014, it has become mandatory to register marriages in order to prevent child marriage in India. The public has been encouraged to report child marriages and non-registered marriages in order to keep violations in check.

Various sensitization programs are carried out to educate the parents and the public against child marriage in India.

UNICEF sees child marriage practice as violation of human rights. One of United Nations’ sustainable goals is to eradicate child marriage in the world by 2030. Studies indicate that more than 40% child marriages of the world, happen in India. So, the International community expects a radical change in India than any other country. With dreams to become a superpower in the near future, it has become imperative to put an end to child marriage in India.

India is surging on its way to become a superpower, but it is a startling reality that an age old evil practice called child marriage still prevails in the country. India has the second highest number of child marriages according to a United Nations report. According to the statistics the State of Bihar has the highest incidence of child marriage at 68% followed by Rajasthan and Jharkhand.

Causes of Child Marriage:

According to the law in India marriageable age is18 years for girls and 21 years for boys. Child marriage in India should be seen as an exploitation of human right. This evil tradition has existed in India for a long time. From the time of the birth of a girl child she was treated as someone else’s property and hence was married at a very tender age. Another social reason to initiate child marriages was that the elders wanted to see the growth of their family with respect to the number of children as it characterized their status. Poor people practiced child marriage to get rid of their loans, taxes, whereas some people instigated it to fetch lump sum dowry.

Impact of Child Marriage:

Child marriage in India imposes huge household responsibilities, especially on innocent girl children who are not mentally and physically prepared for it. Boys who are still minors are forced to bear critical financial responsibilities and the whole family. Child marriage in India snatches the innocent childhood and the freedom to play and learn from these kids. This evil practice incubates a greater risk of contracting sexual diseases like HIV. Girls who get married at a very young age are less likely to be aware about pregnancy and correlated topics. A baby born to such mother is more likely to suffer from ailments like malnutrition.

Prevention of Child Marriages in India:

The Indian Constitution and Law prohibit Child Marriage in India in any shape or form. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 eradicate the flaws in previously present laws. The act strictly prohibits the marriage of a girl under eighteen years of age and a boy below twenty-one years of age. Under this law, the children have the choice to declare their marriage as annulled up to two years of reaching adulthood. Apparently, a major shortcoming of the law is that it doesn’t cover the Muslims, as this law is binding to all citizens of India. A foremost hindrance in curbing the evil practice is that most of these marriages are not registered and are carried out informally.

Marriage is a sacred union between two mature individuals who are in consensus with each other to share responsibilities and take care of each other for a lifetime. Child Marriages happen to be an illogical institution that has prevailed in the country, despite all the development and growth that the country has witnessed over the time. It needs to be understood that poverty and lack of education are the major factors that undermine the efforts to end this menace. The Government of India and different NGOs’ are working meticulously to spread awareness about child marriage in India. As a responsible citizen of India we must contribute to the fullest to eradicate this evil practise by immediately reporting to the police when one hears of child marriage taking place.

Child marriage in India is a disturbing truth that still exists in the nation. Marriage is an institution in which two mature persons agree to live with each other by sharing their responsibilities equally. But, child marriage in India is totally opposed to it.

What is child marriage in India and its history?

Child marriage in India is an informal or formal wedding amongst two persons in which the male is below 21 years of age and the girl is below 18 years of age. It is also considered as the misuse of civil rights because it is a kind of an involuntary wedding.

There is a long history behind the child marriage in India. It exists from the eras when the empire structure was predominant.

The child marriage in India was also utilized as a weapon to keep the girls safe from rapes and kidnap by foreign sovereigns. One more social motive to start child marriage in India was that the aging people in the families desired to see their grandchildren’s faces before dying.

Effects of Child Marriage In India:

The following are the effects of child marriage in India:

1. During child marriage in India, the immature girl kid needs to leave her home forcefully and have to live in a new home with lots of responsibilities. At such a small age, the girl who is not mentally mature has to take the huge responsibilities of the home.

2. Child marriage in India also results in a depression in the kids. Besides the girl child, the male child is also not so much capable of taking full responsibility of her wife and also the expenses of running a family.

3. Childhood gets vanished at the time of child marriage in India. In fact, the independence of playing and learning is also stolen in the practice.

4. There are extreme risk aspects that are associated with child marriage in India, such as, getting STDs (sexually transmitted diseases) like HIV. Girl child does not have much knowledge about pregnancy and babies of these small girls are more probable to health issues like low birth weights malnutrition, etc.

How to spread social awareness about Child Marriage in India?

The following steps should be taken to spread social awareness about child marriage in India:

1. Children have to be taught regarding their civil rights. They should know that when to decline and protest against the forceful child marriage.

2. Media can also play an important role in making people aware of child marriage in India. They can telecast some television programs or shows about this monstrous ritual which can create a massive change in the attitude of the people.

3. There should be strict laws and legal provision against the child marriage in India that can stop this evil from occurring. People indulging in such marriages should be punished reasonably by the law.

4. Government organizations and NGOs should work together to decelerate the practice of child marriage in India.

5. The current provision of punishment for child marriage in India is a few months along with some amount of fine which is completely insufficient. The severity of punishment should also increase to tackle this problem.

6. There should be an appointment of officers for the anti-child wedding in every single Indian State. There should be a rule that anybody who appears in child marriage in India must inform about it to the concerning officer for stopping this disaster to happen.

Child marriage in India should be abolished and this can only be done if people become aware of the massive consequences of this evil. Child marriage not only spoils the childhood of the kids but also their coming future.

As per Indian law, a girl before the age of 18 and a boy before the age of 21 are not considered eligible to marry. Any such disobedience is considered as child marriage and is regarded as unlawful and is a punishable offence. However, the law of terming child marriage as a punishable offence is relatively new with having come into existence just a few years before India gained independence from the British rule. Prior to it, child marriage was an accepted social practice prevalent in almost all parts of the country.

Historical Reference of Child Marriage:

The origin of the practice of child marriage is not known, though it is believed to have been commonly practised across the world before the 19 th century. Girls, as soon as they attained puberty were required to be married off. This finds a reference in the Dharamsatra as well. Additionally, there is a mention in Manusmriti that it is an offence on part of the parents to marry off a girl before she has attained puberty or if it has been more than three years after she has attained puberty. Similarly, a boy is required to be married off before he attained the age of 16 years.

Association of Dowry with Child Marriage:

The offering of gifts and wealth to the groom’s family by the bride’s family is called dowry. It has long been associated with child marriage in India. A common practice across all religions in India, it is often correlated to the age of the bride. In other words, more the age of the bride, more the demand of the dowry will be. This fear of more dowry has led to more prevalence of child marriage in India. Additionally, poverty has also been a major factor driving people towards child marriage.

Child Marriage Laws in India:

The first law against the child marriage in India came during the British rule. In the year 1929, the then British Government came up with the Child Marriage Restraint Act, which was later referred to as the Sarda Act. This law prohibited the marriage of boys under the age of 21 years and girls under the age of 18 years. Except for some states such as Jammu and Kashmir and Hyderabad, this act was enacted upon the entire country on 1 April 1930. Initially, the act proposed an imprisonment of up to three months in case of disobedience which was further amended in the years 1940 and 1978.

The Child Marriage Restraint act had some shortcomings. These shortcomings were addressed with the introduction of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act in the year 2006. Under this law, the boys and the girls forced into marriage were provided with the option of terming their marriage as void and the dowry so given was returned to the bride’s family.

Initiatives by the Government:

According to the information of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), an aggregate number of 169, 222 and 280 cases have been enlisted under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006 in the year 2012, 2013 and 2014 individually.

As per the information provided by the Government in the Lok Sabha, it is concerned about the pervasiveness of Child Marriages in the nation and has set up essential enactment viz. Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) 2006 to handle the issue. The States/UTs now and again is as a rule routinely sought after for compelling usage of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. Further, State Governments are asked to take the unique activity to postpone marriage by facilitated endeavours on Akha Teejthe customary day for such marriages. Advertisements in the press and electronic media instructing people groups about the issue of Child Marriage and so forth are additionally being taken up. Stages, for example, the International Women’s Day and the National Girl Child Day are utilized to make mindfulness on issues identified with ladies and to convey to the inside stage issues, for example, kid marriage. Through the Sabla program of this Ministry, girls in the age gathering of 11 to 18 years are conferred preparing with respect to legitimate privileges of women which additionally incorporates the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.

Not all practices prevalent in the society were meant to benefit the people. Some of them need to be changed with time. Child Marriage is one such practice which should be stopped altogether. However, this cannot be possible only by enacting laws. The people of the country should equally support the government and oppose whenever they encounter such practices. Then only we can be successful in abolishing this practice altogether throughout the country.

Child Marriage Concept:

However, that is not the only case for child marriage in India. Most of the time, a minor girl is married off to an adult male. Such incidences are plenty and fall under the category of child marriage in India. And though most child marriages in India take place in villages, their occurrence in the urban areas cannot be denied.

In technical terms, if the girl is below eighteen years and the boy is below twenty-one years of age, then, their marriage would be considered a child marriage in India. It is believed that the youngsters below the respective ages are not mature enough.

In the case of child marriage in India, both the candidates can neither understand, give a genuine viewpoint, nor make a decision on the serious matter of marriage. Hence, such wedlock is regarded as child marriage in India. The practice of child marriage in India is highest in Bihar and lowest in Himachal Pradesh.

Factors Responsible:

Child marriage in India is practiced mostly in the rural parts of the country. There are many important factors which contribute to the existence of child marriage in India. Preference of boys over girls among rural people causes them to see the female child as a burden. Consequently, parents often marry off their daughters at an early age, resulting in child marriage in India.

Child marriage in India is also related to poverty. As the people in villages and small towns do not have sufficient sources of income, to them, marrying the girl child would mean fewer mouths to feed. Not only that, but child marriage in India also involve selling the minor girl to the groom’s family.

Lack of education has an equal role in child marriage in India. When adults are not well-educated, they are unaware of the severe impacts of child marriage in India. The absence of awareness for the mental, physical, and emotional repercussions of this malpractice leads to the perpetuation of child marriage in India.

Social customs and traditions still define the mindset of particular castes and communities in the society. Child marriage in India has been practiced since the invasion by the Mughals and then the Britishers. It was performed to protect the young girls from abduction and sexual abuses.

Nonetheless, the modern scenario of child marriage in India revolves around the patriarchal system. Girls do not have much say when it comes to their sexual rights and freedom. It is the male who possesses more power in such matters.

Consequences of Child Marriage:

Child marriage in India imposes many untimely hardships upon both girls and boys. The male child has to take up the role of breadwinner for his wife. The female child has to indulge in sex and motherhood, even when she is not prepared for it mentally, physically and psychologically.

In many ways, child marriage in India steals childhood away from the minors. It crushes their dreams and innocence. Child marriage in India has gruesome effects on the mind and body of the girl child. The body of a young girl is not fully developed. She is also vulnerable emotionally. An early marriage disturbs her whole health poorly.

Unwanted and multiple pregnancies suck the life out of her. Sometimes, the painful process of childbirth may also cause the death of the young mother. Miscarriages are common in the young brides. Child marriage in India is the major cause of child mortality.

Even if the childbirth is without any complications, both mother and child suffer from malnutrition and poor weight. Their immunity is low and so, they are more prone to falling sick frequently. The child marriage in India also takes a toll on the girl as they have to carry out all the household works at such a young age.

Obviously, due to child marriage in India, the girl’s basic right to education is violated which ultimately drives her to a hopeless future. Bereaved of education and awareness, the couple has higher chances to acquire sexually transmitted diseases, like AIDS and HIV, etc. They are ill-informed about the use of contraceptives and benefits of family planning.

Dealing with the Issue:

The first step toward ending the child marriage in India is to create awareness through every possible medium. Expectations from the government and official systems are understandable but without the support of the common public, child marriage in India would continue to happen.

Basic level of education for boys and girls should be mandatory because the absence of knowledge is the prime cause of child marriage in India. When our younger generation in the rural areas would be well educated, they would be less likely to fall into the trap of child marriages.

Info-graphic posters, interesting radio advertisements, folk songs, and folklores are quite effective in catching the attention of adults as well as young ones. Academic teachings have very limited use in the personal lives of people. Young ones must be informed of their basic human rights to refuse child marriages and to call it void, if at all.

Spreading awareness through various financial and non-financial campaigns can do wonders to throw off the system of child marriage in India on the root level. Street plays also known as Nukkad Natak , are entertaining ways to educate the rural population about the drawbacks of child marriages.

Enough laws have been made to protect the children from this evil malpractice. The problem is that of effective implementation. Unless and until the system would be prompt in its response, the child marriages in India would be difficult to catch hold of. Both public and NGOs have an essential role to play in the proper functioning of the government system.

Child Marriage , Social Issues

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Child marriage: “an affront to human dignity and well-being and an impediment to sustainable development”

Date: Monday, 19 September 2016

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Child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) has been recognized under international human rights law as a harmful practice and is often associated with serious forms of violence against women and girls, including intimate partner violence.

Not only is it a grave human rights violation, but it is also an affront to human dignity and well-being and an impediment to sustainable development.  While it is a reality for both boys and girls, it is girls who are disproportionally affected. Approximately 700 million girls worldwide have been married before their eighteenth birthday.  One in every three girls in developing countries is married before reaching age 18 and one in nine is married under age 15.

Despite the slight decrease in prevalence over the past three decades, and an increase in the number of laws against child, early and forced marriage, the practice remains widespread, in part due to inadequate enforcement of laws, and misconceptions about traditional and cultural practices reflecting gender inequality and gender-based discrimination as root causes.

Indigenous and minority women and girls living in strict patriarchal, religious, traditional or caste systems are especially vulnerable to child, early and forced marriage. This is particularly exacerbated in conflict settings, as families see child, early and forced marriage as a way of providing girls with a home and protecting them from sexual violence.

Child, early and forced marriage has a devastating impact on the overall realization and enjoyment of girls’ and women’s rights, in particular, their sexual and reproductive health rights. It is a fundamental denial of their right to and autonomy over their own bodies and their bodily integrity.

Along with other forms of violence against women and girls, including intimate partner violence, trafficking in persons and other harmful practices such as female genital mutilations/cutting, child, early and force marriage is linked to high rates of maternal mortality, lower use of family planning, unwanted pregnancies and usually signals the end of a girl’s education.

Girls who marry in childhood are at greater risk for intimate partner violence than girls of the same age who marry later. There is little or no accountability for those who facilitate child, early or forced marriages, or perpetrate the violence within them, and even less recourse, including shelter and safe accommodation, for those wishing to escape.

Ending the travesty that is child, early and forced marriage and other harmful practices such as female genital mutilation/cutting, have been firmly rooted in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development under Sustainable Development Goal 5 and Target 5.3, and have been clearly enunciated as barriers to the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment.

As such, ending violence against women and girls, including harmful practices such as child, early and forced marriages, will make a crucial contribution not only to progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5, but across all the sustainable goals and targets.

It is critical that we address the root causes of child, early and forced marriage such as gender inequality, gender-based discrimination and gender stereotypes and social norms that condone gender inequality, violence against women and girls and harmful practices, through stepping up our collective work on the 4 P’s of the strategy for the elimination of violence against women, including prevention, prevention, protection, provision of services and prosecution of perpetrators.

To achieve this, UN Women’s work focuses on women’s empowerment, including through education, economic empowerment and enhanced participation to decision-making, as well as on the protection and promotion of the human rights of all women and girls.

Violence against women and girls, including harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage, is considered a serious impediment for the achievement of gender equality and ending such violence is one of the core priorities of the organization.

To address this scourge, our efforts must include awareness-raising, constituency-building, and working with our champions—civil society organizations, traditional and religious leaders, men and boys and women and girls at all levels—to drive this movement forward. We must know what are the causes of child, early and forced marriage, and identify what policies and measures work, supported by rigorous collection of data.  

We should no longer rely on justifications for child, early and forced marriage, and indeed, other harmful practices, on the grounds of tradition and culture, or engage in debates on the age of consent, parental permission or whether it is for a girl’s own security.

It is also imperative that Governments seize upon this opportunity of the sustainable development agenda to abandon these harmful practices completely and hold those responsible accountable. Meeting a Target such as SDG 5.3 provides us with the opportunity to demonstrate results in a very tangible and concrete way.

In line with our approach, UN Women is involved in a number of leading global initiatives that address such violence against girls:

The Together for Girls initiative, is a unique public-private partnership, where we work together with UNICEF, UNFPA and other partners to bring attention to the issue of violence against children, in support of country driven efforts for change.

A central component of UN Women’s Youth and Gender Equality Strategy is to strengthen initiatives for the empowerment of young women and develop young men as partners in gender equality, women’s empowerment, and women’s rights. Within this strategy, the “LEAPs” framework calls for strengthening Leadership of women’s Leadership, promoting Economic Empowerment, investing in innovation and skills development of young women, and taking action to end Violence against young women and girls.  

Additionally, the framework makes the strong case for promoting participation, voice, and partnerships with young women, young women led-organizations and networks, as well as strengthening partnerships with young men and intergenerational partnerships to achieve gender equality.

At the country level, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, managed by UN Women, is also addressing child, early and forced marriage in Cambodia, Cameroon, Liberia and Tajikistan as part of its global efforts with the aim of ensuring that women and girls enjoy the right to a life free of violence.

In Kyrgyzstan, advocacy efforts by civil society groups, supported by UN Women, led to the final approval of legislation toughening the sanctions for the broadly practiced custom of bride-kidnapping.

In Malawi, UN Women and its partners have played an integral part in raising awareness of the issue of early child and forced marriages and lobbying for legislative change. In 2015, as a result of consistent advocacy efforts, the Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Act, was adopted by the national parliament, raising the minimum age of marriage without parental consent to 18 years.

In closing, I would like to echo the call of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to leave no child, girl or boy, or indeed woman, behind. Let’s keep this in mind as we think and work collectively on this issue—how we can ensure we reach everyone, as we move towards eliminating harmful practices such as child, early and forced marriages, and eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls for good.

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Child marriage - Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

Child marriage is a global issue where minors are married off, often before they are physically or emotionally mature. Essays on child marriage could explore the sociocultural or economic factors contributing to its prevalence, the legal frameworks surrounding it, or its impact on individuals and communities. Analyzing efforts to combat child marriage, the role of education, and the impact of global advocacy can provide a nuanced understanding of the challenges and potential solutions associated with addressing child marriage. We’ve gathered an extensive assortment of free essay samples on the topic of Child Marriage you can find at PapersOwl Website. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Child Marriage: Legal Dilemmas and Cultural Clash

Child marriage is the marriage that an individual performs without reaching the physical and mental maturity necessary to act as an adult. Child marriage usually means the marriage of a 18-year-old child. Early marriage, these minors are from their families, friends and future; education, deprives the school of life and pushes it under very difficult responsibilities. We see such marriages more especially in developing and underdeveloped countries. In our country's legal system; According to the Turkish Civil Code, the Turkish […]

Child Marriage: Uncovering the Causes and Consequences in Contemporary Society

Child marriage is a formal or informal marriage of a child under the age of 18. Generally it is a marriage of a young girl with older man. There are approximately 700 million women around the world today who got married at young age. There would be a few factors that lead to child marriage and the effect that it gave to our society. Firstly, unwanted early pregnancies contribute to the ubiquity of child marriage in Malaysia. A high number […]

What we Do: Economic Empowerment

Abstract : Education is widely understood as an indicator of women status and even more importantly as a factor for the empowerment of women. Women have such unexplored potential which has never been tapped. For centuries women were not treated equal to men in many ways. Today we can see that women occupies respectable positions in all walks of life. Yet, they are not absolutely free, due to discriminations and harassments of the society. A few number of women have […]

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Essay about Gender Segregation

The developing world has encountered various forms of gender inequality or segregation. In education, when discrimination is mentioned, most people happen to think about African or Middle Eastern. The question commonly asked is how often women can be involved in this issue of segregation in education? Recently, women have gone through tremendous struggles for them to be granted the same rights for education like those given to men. Gender segregation can be defined as the concentration of one gender in […]

India and Muslims

Presentation: India has a historical significance and, according to some estimates, Indian civilization dates back to over five thousand years. Therefore, it is natural that its society is also very old and complex. Throughout its long-spanning history, India has witnessed and absorbed several waves of immigrants including Aryans, Muslims etc. These immigrants brought their own ethnicities and cultures, contributing to the country's diversity, richness, and vitality. As such, Indian society is a complex mix of diverse cultures, people, beliefs, and […]

A Marriage that Means Nothing but Necessities

Marriages of convenience are undertaken for many other reasons than that of a relationship of love and affection. Instead, the marriages are based upon personal gain for either one or both people in the marriage. In most cases, people typically marry only so one of them can have a visa. Women in poor countries often marry men in exchange for a better life, uprooting themselves and leaving their families, children, and everything they have ever known behind. First, I will […]

Beyond Tradition: Analyzing Global Efforts to Combat Child Marriage

Stepping into the global arena, the battle against child marriage intensifies, challenging longstanding norms and traditions. This pervasive issue, involving the union of individuals before the age of 18, has triggered a synchronized international effort to dismantle its foundations and usher in a more equitable future. The discourse surrounding child marriage now transcends cultural confines, evolving into a universal call for action. It goes beyond the mere overhaul of legal frameworks, delving into the complexities of societal attitudes that sustain […]

The Impact of Early Unions: Examining the Causes and Consequences of Child Marriage

Child marriage, an enduring societal dilemma, casts a lengthy shadow over the destinies of numerous young souls globally. This practice, involving the union of individuals before the age of 18, unfolds against a tapestry of cultural traditions, economic pressures, and gender imbalances. The repercussions of early unions are profound, shaping the trajectories of those involved and perpetuating a cycle of disadvantage. In this exploration, we delve into the labyrinth of causes and consequences surrounding child marriage, striving for a comprehensive […]

Rethinking Love and Relationships in the Battle against Child Marriage

In a world steeped in age-old traditions and norms, the mere mention of redefining love and relationships to combat the blight of child marriage might sound like a whimsical fairy tale. Yet, here we are, delving into the labyrinth of change armed with skepticism. As a psychologist, I find myself navigating through the unexplored corridors of human behavior, questioning the efficacy of rewriting the narrative of love in the fight against an entrenched social ill. Love, an elusive emotion, has […]

Skeptic’s Perspective on Digital Guardians: Rethinking Technology in the Battle against Child Marriage

Child marriage, a deeply entrenched societal issue, has stirred global conversations and efforts aimed at finding innovative solutions. Advocates often champion technology as a digital guardian capable of combating this grave problem. However, as a skeptic psychologist, I approach this notion with caution, questioning the effectiveness and potential unintended consequences of relying solely on technology to address such a complex and deeply rooted cultural phenomenon. The proponents of utilizing technology in the fight against child marriage argue that digital tools […]

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Essay on Child Marriage for Students in English [Easy Words*]

January 16, 2021 by Sandeep

Essay on Child Marriage: A banned social practice in India where young girls below adolescent age are married off to older men with or without their consent is called child marriage. India has set the record for the 14th highest rate of child marriages globally. Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are child marriage hotspots in the country. Poverty, social customs and traditions are the main reasons for the existence of child marriages even today.

Essay on Child Marriage 500 Words in English

Below we have provided Child Marriage Essay in English, suitable for class 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10.

Child marriage is a marriage that takes place either between two children or an adult and a child. In most cases, the adult is a man, and the child is a small girl. Child marriage was common throughout history, but it is still prevalent in developing countries. In a survey, it was found that in countries like Niger and Bangladesh, around 20 percent of the girls under the age of 15 are married. The legal age for marriage in India for women is 18, and for men, it is 21. Many organisations like UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Funds) and CRY (Child Rights and You) are working towards preventing child marriage.

Causes of Child Marriage

Child marriage is sometimes simply followed as a tradition. People follow the practice just because it has been going on from generations in their community. In many countries, there still exists prominent gender inequality. Girls are considered a burden on their family. They are bounded by patriarchal values. Child marriage is more widespread among people who live in poverty . They feel that by marrying their daughter young, they would have one less person to educate, feed and clothe.

Impact of Child Marriage

Child marriage can have serious negative repercussions on the physical as well as the mental health of a girl. It denies her fundamental rights that every person is entitled to include the right to education, the right to rest and leisure and the right to protection from sexual abuse and exploitation. When girls are married young, they are forced to take up household responsibilities. This deprives them of a chance to educate and empower themselves. They remain dependent on their male counterparts throughout their life.

The most physiologically and psychologically draining situation for a young girl is if she attains early motherhood. It is found that girls below the age of 15 who give birth are five times more likely to die during delivery than those who are above the age of 20. The bodies of these girls are not even fully developed and capable of giving birth at such a tender age. This puts the health of the mother and the child in grave danger.

There have been more studies on how child marriage affects young girls and very few on how it distresses young boys. However, two main adverse effects of child marriage on boys are related to education and poverty. As soon as boys get married, they are burdened with the responsibility of supporting their new family. Because of this, they stop their education and take up menial jobs that do not even pay well. This behaves like a vicious cycle of poverty.

Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006

Realising the plight of young brides and grooms, the government of India came out with The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act in the year 2006. Under this act, the legal age to get married is 21 for males and 18 for females. In case an adult is found marrying a girl below the age of 18, he will be severely punished. In cases where two minor children are forcibly married, the punishment will fall upon their parents or legal guardians. Punishment includes a fine up to Rs. 1 Lakh and imprisonment for up to 2 years.

Ways to Prevent Child Marriage

To stop this practice of forced marriage, not only girls, but even their parents should be made aware of the negative consequences that child marriage brings with it. The thinking of parents that a daughter is a burden on the family needs to be changed. This mindset has a very negative impact on the self-esteem of the girl. Girls should be encouraged to make themselves literate and independent. They should be given the opportunity of getting empowered and living life on their own terms.

Essay on Early Marriage

Students are often asked to write an essay on Early Marriage in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Early Marriage

What is early marriage.

Early marriage means two people starting a married life when they are young, often before they are 18 years old. This is common in some cultures and places.

Reasons Behind Early Marriage

Many times, families think marrying their children young is good, maybe for tradition, money, or to keep honor. Sometimes, young people may also want to marry early because they love each other.

Problems with Early Marriage

Marrying young can cause problems. It can stop education and harm health, especially if young girls have babies. It can also lead to more family fights and money issues.

Changing Views

Now, many people and governments say early marriage is not good. They are trying to change laws and teach others about the problems it causes, to help young people wait to marry.

250 Words Essay on Early Marriage

Early marriage is when two people get married before they reach the age at which they are generally considered ready for marriage responsibilities. This age is often 18 or older. When young teenagers or even children are married, it is called early or child marriage.

Many times, early marriages happen because of tradition, culture, or poverty. Families may think marrying off their children young will protect them or help them financially. Some believe it is a way to keep traditions alive or ensure that the young couple grows together in a certain way.

Getting married early can cause a lot of problems. Young couples might not be ready for the big responsibilities that come with marriage, like taking care of a family. They might have to stop going to school and miss out on education and opportunities to grow. Health can also be a big concern, especially if young girls become mothers when their bodies are not ready.

The Impact on Society

When young people marry early, it doesn’t just affect them; it impacts the whole society. They might not be able to contribute much because they missed out on education and skills. This can lead to more poverty and less progress for the community.

Early marriage can limit young people’s futures and hurt their health and society’s growth. It is important for communities to understand these problems and work together to give young people the chance to learn, grow, and make their own choices about marriage.

500 Words Essay on Early Marriage

There are many reasons why early marriage takes place. In some families, it is a tradition that has been passed down for generations. Sometimes, parents think that marrying their children young will protect them or make sure they are taken care of. Other times, families might not have enough money, and marrying off a child can mean one less person to feed or clothe. In some situations, young girls are married to older men because of agreements made between families.

Challenges of Early Marriage

When people marry young, they face many challenges. They might have to stop going to school, which means they won’t get the education they need to find good jobs in the future. They might not be ready for the responsibilities of marriage, like taking care of a home or raising children. This can be very hard for them and can lead to problems in the marriage.

Effects on Society

Early marriage doesn’t just affect the people who get married, but it can also have an impact on society. When many people in a community marry young, it can mean that a lot of people don’t finish school. This can lead to a community where not many people have the skills or knowledge to do certain jobs, which can make it hard for the community to grow and prosper.

What is Being Done?

Many people and organizations around the world are working to stop early marriage. They try to educate communities about the problems it causes and encourage them to let children stay in school longer. Laws are also being made to make it illegal for children to marry before they reach a certain age. These efforts are helping, but there is still a lot of work to be done.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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Prevalence and factors associated with child marriage, a systematic review

Asma pourtaheri.

1 Department of Health Promotion and Education, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Seyedeh Belin Tavakoly Sany

2 Department of Health, Safety and Environment management (HSE), School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Monavvar Afzal Aghaee

3 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Hamideh Ahangari

Nooshin peyman, associated data.

All data related to this study are reported in this document.

Girl child marriage is increasingly recognized as a critical barrier to global public health and gender discrimination. There are still more gaps in the global rate of child marriage and the underlying factors. Thus, the present systematic review aimed to explore the prevalence of child marriage and the underlying factors.

A comprehensive search was conducted for all English-language studies that measured the prevalence of child marriage and its correlates from 2000 to March 2022, indexed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Poplin, and Google Scholar databases. Child marriage is defined as marriage under the age of 18. In the present study, Joanna Briggs' quality assessment checklist was used for data collection. Two independent reviewers reviewed all the articles.

In total, 34 eligible prevalence articles and 14 trend articles were included in the study with data from 127,945 participants. The prevalence of child marriage ranged between 1.8% to 90.85%. In most studies, the trend of child marriage was decreasing. The most important individual factors include the respondent's education and occupation, interpersonal factors such as the education and occupation of parents and husband, family size and type. Community factors include socioeconomic status, region, residence, ethnicity, and religion at the social level.

Despite a central focus of research and policies on interventions that decrease child marriage, this phenomenon is still prevalent in many places. Therefore, further specific interventions are required to improve education, reduce poverty and inequality. This may help achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12905-023-02634-3.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) defined Child Marriage (CM) as marriage occurring at the age younger than 18 years [ 1 ]. Nearly 15 million girls under the age of 18 marry around the world annually [ 2 ]. A total number of 750 million women get married during childhood nowadays, and this number will be as large by 2030 unless a significant change is introduced, [ 3 ].

CM is a major health and child rights issue in many low- and middle-income countries [ 4 – 6 ]. Human rights experts argue the practice violates children's human rights and threatens their health and development [ 7 ]. Much human rights evidence, over the past few years, has dealt with child marriage, such as the UN Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age of Marriage and Registration of Marriages (1962) [ 8 ], Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979) [ 9 ], Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) [ 10 ]. According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, one criterion for international development is the percentage of women population married before the age of 18 (10). In addition, the percentage of women married before the age of 18 is included in the annual report on the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals [ 11 ].

The growing focus on CM as a global development issue also appears to reflect growing concern over its potential impact on the population health. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Bank, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) consider the potential adverse effects on health a great concern [ 12 , 13 ].

Girls who marry under the age of 18 come to have children at an early age [ 3 , 14 ]. Studies have shown that they have less control over their fertility. For example, they have less access to contraception, have more unwanted pregnancies, have higher chances of terminating pregnancies, and have shorter intervals between childbirths [ 15 , 16 ]. As a result, they are at a higher risk of obstetric complications, known as the leading cause of mortality among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries [ 17 , 18 ]. Girls married early are more likely to experience domestic violence [ 19 , 20 ]. The risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) increases in this population [ 21 , 22 ]. Also, early marriage affects girls’ psychological well-being [ 23 , 24 ].

Several studies have explored the correlates of child marriage. Child marriage is common among poor families because there is little motivation or resource to invest in future [ 25 ]. The loss of educational opportunities, unemployment are related to poverty [ 26 ] and natural vulnerabilities also reduce economic functioning, thus negatively affecting poor households [ 27 ]. Social, religious, cultural and traditional beliefs and norms play a major role in the continuation of early marriage [ 28 ].

An essential step to achieve the fifth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDGs), concerning the elimination of all forms of violence against women, entails the preventative interventions for child marriage. However, this act of elimination by 2030 will require a substantial acceleration, equivalent to a 23% reduction [ 29 ].

Despite the growing literature on strategies and methods to reduce child marriage [ 30 – 32 ], there is no systematic review on the prevalence of child marriage and the underlying factors. In a systematic review, Zaman reported that about 1% of 15- 19-year-old population in Canada were in common-law unions or married in 2016 and there was no national estimation of the frequency of child marriage [ 33 ]. In a review of rural residence, Nasser Subramanee introduced low education level, poor economic background, low exposure to mass media and religion as the underlying factors of child marriage [ 34 ].

A combination of child marriage with political, economic and religious matters has led to inaccurate statistics in many countries, which challenges preventive policies. Comprehensive information helps understand the prevalence rate of child marriage in different contexts and provides a perspective for policymakers to develop appropriate intervention strategies. In addition, recognition of the main influential factors underlying child marriage could contribute to systematic interventions against these factors. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were: 1) to systematically review the prevalence of child marriage in different parts of the world 2) to represent trends in child marriage over time 3) to recognize the factors that affect child marriage.

Design of study

In the present review, the Preferred Reporting Project for Systematic Review (PRISMA) was used along with the PICO framework to explore the prevalence of child marriage and the underlying factors [ 35 ]. Review techniques were used to address the following research questions.

• What is the global prevalence of child marriage?
• What are the trends in child marriage in different parts of the world?
• What factors account for child marriage?

Information sources and search strategy

The prevalence of child marriage among married women was explored from January 2000 to March 2022 in five databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Web of science, Poplin and Google Scholar to review the related gray literature.

According to Haddaway [ 36 ], most gray literature appears in the first 200 citations provided by Google Scholar. Haddaway suggests that the reviewers focus on the first 200–300 records. As suggested, the first 300 records were retained and sorted by relevance.

The search terms included Medical Subject Headings (Mesh), free words, and selected keywords. The keywords included "early marriage", "teenage marriage", “prevalence”, “Incidences”, "Incidence Proportion", "Cumulative Incidence", "Incidence Rate". The main components were combined by Boolean operators (AND, OR) in the search strategy.

Here is an instance of search strategy in PubMed:

• (((((("early marriage"[Title/Abstract]) OR ("spouse child"[Title/Abstract])) OR ("teenage marriage"[Title/Abstract])) OR ("adolescent marriage"[Title/Abstract])) OR ("child bride"[Title/Abstract])) OR ("forced marriage"[Title/Abstract])).
• ((((((((Prevalence[Title/Abstract]) OR (Incidences[Title/Abstract])) OR ("Incidence Proportion"[Title/Abstract])) OR ((Proportion[Title/Abstract] AND Incidence[Title/Abstract]))) OR ("Cumulative Incidence"[Title/Abstract])) OR ((Incidence[Title/Abstract] AND Cumulative[Title/Abstract]))) OR ("Incidence Rate"[Title/Abstract])) OR ((Rate[Title/Abstract] AND Incidence[Title/Abstract]))).

Finally, we came across additional studies through a manual search of references.

Selection process: inclusion and exclusion criteria

The PICO-SD guidelines were followed, including patients, interventions, comparisons, outcomes, and study design to extend the criteria. The inclusion criteria were married women under the age of 18, and a report of the prevalence of child marriage. As part of our supplementary information, the details of inclusion and exclusion criteria are summarized in Table S 1 .

Letters to the editor, intervention studies, qualitative studies, reviews, case reports, meeting summary reports, and studies that did not report the sample size were excluded. According to the UNICEF, child marriage is defined as marriage under the age of 18.

Identification and selection of studies

All potentially relevant studies in each database were imported into electronic reference management software (EndNote X8.8) and spreadsheets (Excel 2016). Article selection for the present review was done in several steps by two independent researchers. In the first step, duplicate studies were eliminated. In the second step, the title and abstract of each study were screened according to some predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The articles that did not meet the inclusion criteria were removed. To determine eligibility, the full text, methods, and results sections were read. In the present review, only the articles that were totally agreed to be included by both reviewers were included. When there was a disagreement about the eligibility of an article, it was resolved by referring to the third researcher.

Data extraction

Two independent authors (A.P and B.T) extracted data from studies through parallel processes.

Through discussion or consultation with the third and fourth reviewers, any doubts and disagreements between the authors (M.A and N.P) regarding the data extraction were resolved.

For the independent double data extraction, a predesigned table was used to suit systematic reviews and extract the following information. The data were extracted according to the purpose of study: (1) authors/publish year, country of origin, type of participants, total papulation, sample size, girls married (number of adolescents who got married under the age of 18), marriage age range, prevalence of child marriage (2), and factors underlying child marriage. The results of all studies were collected according to the purpose of study and research question. A total number of 28 eligible articles and 14-trend articles were included in the study. In addition, 6 studies were added by searching in the reference list of articles. Finally, 34 scientific papers and 14 trend articles were included.

Risk of bias assessment

Joanna Briggs' Quality Assessment Checklist was used for Cross-sectional Analytical Studies [ 37 ]. This checklist contains eight questions. Two questions were not used in the present study, as they were objective in type. They explored whether standard criteria were used to measure the condition, and whether the outcome behavior was measured in a valid and reliable way. Thus, the quality of the studies was evaluated with 6 questions.

Extraction of the prevalence of child marriage

In 28 of the overall 34 articles, the prevalence of child marriage was stated directly [ 38 – 65 ], and it was considered as the prevalence rate. However, in five articles, the prevalence was not mentioned directly [ 66 – 70 ]. Thus, the prevalence was estimated as the proportion of the girls married under 18 years to the total population.

Evaluation of trend studies

The Average Annual Rate of Reduction (AARR) was computed using the following equation to check relative trends:

AARR in Eq. ( 1 ) represents the average relative decline in child marriage each year.

SDG target 5.3 refers to the "Elimination of early childhood and forced marriage" by 2030.

To assess whether countries are on track to achieve this goal, the prevalence of EM in 2030 was anticipated for each country using the following equation:

The AARR for each country is calculated using formula ( 1 ), and n represents the number of years between a country's most recent survey and 2030 [ 71 ].

Extensive data on the prevalence of child marriage needed to summarize the studies descriptively and evaluate them qualitatively. Therefore, no meta-analysis was done. It was very intuitive and practical to combine the results into categories of related factors, such as education, socioeconomic status, and parental conditions. These categories emerged from the data and were not predetermined.

Search outcome: study design

The systematic review included 32 prevalence articles [ 38 – 50 , 52 – 70 , 72 ], two theses [ 40 , 51 ] with data from 127,945 participants, Of these participants, 82,147 were married under the age of 18 and there were also14 trends articles [ 71 , 73 – 85 ] (Fig.  1 , Table ​ Table1 1 ).

PRISMA flow chart diagram describing selection of studies for systematic review on Prevalence and factors relating of child marriage

Summary characteristics of cross sectional studies included in the systematic review

a This information was followed linked; https://datatopics.worldbank.org/world-development-indicators/the-world-by-income-and-region.html

b Total papulation that was examined in these studies

c Total girls that got married under 18 year

A study reported the phenomenon of child marriage among Syrian refugees. This study was excluded due to the high rate of child marriage in this population and the potential bias in results [ 86 ].

The sample size ranged between 300 [ 44 ] and 22 807 [ 72 ]. The studies included were published between 2005 and 2021, but they were mostly published in 2019–2021 ( n  = 15, 44.11%). In total, the data were collected from 14 countries. In terms of geographic distribution, 15(44.11%) of the included articles had been conducted in South and Southeast Asia [ 38 , 39 , 44 , 45 , 48 , 50 , 51 , 57 – 61 , 69 , 70 , 72 ], 16 in Africa (47.05%) [ 40 , 41 , 43 , 47 , 52 – 56 , 62 – 68 ], and three in the Eastern Mediterranean (8.82%) [ 42 , 46 , 49 ]. Two countries, Bangladesh ( n  = 7) [ 38 , 39 , 45 , 48 , 50 , 61 , 69 ] and Ethiopia ( n  = 8) [ 43 , 53 – 55 , 62 , 63 , 65 , 68 ] accounted for approximately half of the studies included in the present review.

Overall, the majority of studies ( n  = 33, %97.05) were conducted in low- and middle-income countries [ 87 ]. All included studies followed a cross-sectional design. About 47% ( n  = 16) of studies relied on data from the National Survey and the Demographic Health Survey (DHS) [ 48 , 50 – 52 , 54 , 57 , 58 , 61 – 64 , 66 – 69 , 72 ].

Four studies met the inclusion criteria. Only one study used a valid and reliable method to measure exposure. Sixteen studies identified confounders. Eleven described details of the setting and subjects. Strategies to control the confounders were adopted in 26 studies.

Appropriate statistical analyses and valid ways to measure outcomes were used in 26 studies. More details of the quality assessment of articles are shown in Table S 2 .

Prevalence of child marriage

Most articles ( n  = 31,91.17) aimed to show the prevalence and determinants of child marriage, and two (5.88%) focused on knowledge about and attitudes towards child marriage [ 38 , 40 ]. In the present systematic review, there was considerable variation in the prevalence of child marriage. Different estimates of the prevalence of child marriage were reported in the same country at the same time. Instances are Bezie [ 53 ] and Gashaw [ 54 ] from Ethiopia (2019), Berliana [ 57 ] and Hasanah [ 58 ] from Indonesia (2021). The reported prevalence of child marriage ranged from 12.8% [ 51 ] to 89.7% [ 45 ] in Asia 1.84% [ 47 ] to 90.85% [ 55 ] in Africa and 15.7% [ 42 ] to 60.15% [ 88 ] in the Mediterranean.

Trends in child marriage

Fourteen trend papers were found among national studies [ 71 , 73 – 82 , 84 , 85 ]. More than 78.50% ( n  = 11) of the articles reported child marriage trends in Asia [ 71 , 73 , 74 , 76 – 82 , 85 ]. Two articles were conducted in Africa (14.28%) [ 83 , 84 ] and one in the United States (7.14%) [ 75 ].

The trend of child marriage has been declining in most studies ( n  = 12, 85.71%), with an exception of Iran, where the prevalence of child marriage increased from 10.27 to 11.21 in 2006–2016 (AARR = 0.87) [ 80 ] and China, where the prevalence of child marriage increased from 2.41 to 2.85 in 2000–2010 (AARR = 1.67) [ 85 ]. The highest decrease was observed in India in 2016–2006 (AARR = -3.63) [ 71 ] and the lowest decrease was in West Africa in 2014–2006 (AARR = -0.58) [ 83 ].

The prevalence of child marriage in 2030 was estimated using a formula based on the prevalence reported in the study. Bangladesh is predicted to have the highest number of child marriage followed by the United States [ 75 ] (Table ​ (Table2 2 ).

Studies of child marriage trends included in systematic reviews

a Average Annual Rate of Reduction

Related factors to child marriage

The factors that influence individuals at a personal level can contribute to a girl being more likely to marry at a young age. Interpersonal factors that increase the likelihood of a girl getting married at a young age are influenced by her relationships with family members, peers, and teachers. The level of presumption has an impact on a girl's immediate social circle, which consists of her family members, peers, and schoolmates. These individuals play a role in shaping her behavior and overall experiences. The influences at the community level refer to the factors that raise the risk level based on the community and social surroundings, particularly schools and neighborhoods. Societal level influences refer to broader factors that have an impact on child marriage. These factors include religious or cultural beliefs, and societal norms that contribute to or maintain disparities between different groups of people.

We categorized the factors related to child marriage based on the Social Ecological Level, which consists of four levels that influence a child's life: the individual, interpersonal, community, and societal levels. The factors that influence individuals at a personal level can contribute to a girl being more likely to marry at a young age. The interpersonal level influences are factors that increase the risk of a girl getting married early because of her relationships with family members, peers, and teachers. The level of presumption influences a girl's closest social circle, which includes family members, peers, and school partners who shape her behaviors and experiences. The influences at the community level refer to the factors that raise the risk level based on the community and social surroundings, particularly schools and neighborhoods. Societal level influences refer to broader factors that have an impact on child marriage. These factors include religious or cultural beliefs, societal norms that contribute to or maintain disparities between different groups of people [ 89 ].

Individual factors related to child marriage include the low education of respondents [ 38 – 45 , 48 – 50 , 52 – 54 , 56 – 63 , 65 , 66 , 68 – 70 , 72 ], unemployment of respondents [ 38 , 45 , 48 , 54 , 66 ], limited knowledge about the complexities of marriage, pregnancy, and marriage laws [ 38 , 43 , 49 , 62 , 65 ], and engaging in sexual activity before the age of 17 [ 64 , 66 ]. Interpersonal factors related to child marriage include the husband's low education [ 39 , 41 , 42 , 44 , 45 , 48 , 50 , 53 , 54 , 61 , 64 , 68 – 70 , 72 ], the husband's occupation as a worker or farmer [ 44 , 50 ], low parental education [ 41 , 42 , 47 , 53 , 59 , 65 ], parents working as farmers [ 47 , 56 ] or low-skilled jobs [ 41 , 42 ], having a family size of more than 5 [ 41 , 47 , 49 , 50 , 70 ], and belonging to a nuclear [ 45 ], or extended [ 42 ] family type., decision-making by parents [ 38 , 44 , 63 , 68 ], consanguineous marriage (marrying close relative) [ 42 , 49 ], Community factors related to child marriage include low socio-economic status [ 39 , 44 , 48 – 54 , 56 – 59 , 61 – 63 , 66 , 70 , 72 ], rural residence [ 41 – 43 , 48 – 52 , 54 , 57 , 62 – 64 , 66 , 69 , 70 , 72 ]. region (regional division in a country) [ 47 , 48 , 50 – 52 , 54 , 61 , 66 , 68 , 72 ], Kurdish, Arab [ 42 ], Dalit [ 44 ], Gurma [ 52 ], Sundanese [ 58 ], Foreign/Non-Congolese and Cuvette central ethnicity [ 66 ], Additionally, the lack of access to media is also a significant factor [ 43 , 45 , 54 , 57 , 65 , 66 , 70 ] and Societal factors related to child marriage include Islam [ 39 , 47 , 50 , 52 , 54 , 69 ], Hinduism [ 60 , 72 ], Orthodox [ 54 ] religions, and no religions [ 52 ]. Factors associated with child marriage are shown in Tables ​ Tables3 3 and ​ and4 4 .

A summary of factor associated with child marriage in the article

Determinants of child marriage in the social ecological framework

Child marriage adversely affects children and society in many ways. The development of interventions depends on access to comprehensive information on the prevalence of child marriage and its geographic distribution. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to measure the prevalence of child marriage, the associated factors, and the trend of child marriage.

Ethiopia was found to have the highest rate of child marriage in 2018 (%90.85) [ 55 ]. Ethiopia is among the countries marked by the highest rate of early marriage in the world, with one in two girls married before the age of 18 and one in five married before the age of 15. It can be due to the acts of discriminating girls by parents, adhering to the traditions and norms of society, leaving natural gifts behind after marriage, forming a social bond (kinship), maintaining virginity and preventing sex before marriage, purchasing dowry (for financial benefits) [ 55 ].

In 2016, Nigeria had the lowest prevalence of child marriage (%1.8) [ 47 ]. This study measured the prevalence of child marriage among high school girls. Overall, female students are less likely to marry, and those who get married lose the opportunity to continue education because of the house chores and child care-taking tasks.

The trend of child marriage in India has declined significantly (AARR -0.61 to -3.63). The improvement in women's education and the wealth of married couples during the past decade can be a major reason. The furtherance of women's education in India reduced child marriage by 38% [ 71 ].

However, the trend of child marriage seems to be increasing in Niger, Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire. Living in rural areas, low education and poverty were the foremost factors affecting child marriage in these regions. In addition, in these countries, planning to reduce child marriage seems to be scarce and these countries fail to apply an accurate evaluation mechanism [ 83 ].

In two studies in Iran and China, the trend of child marriage was increasing. In Iran, the trend has decreased in the age group of 10–14 years, but has increased in the age group of 15–19. It should be interpreted with caution because distinguishing age groups can overestimate the prevalence of child marriage. However, changes in demographic policies should not be ignored [ 80 ]. Child marriage is more prevalent in China's western provinces (Yunnan, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Ningxia, Tibet, and Guizhou). The population of women, autonomous ethnic minorities and poverty is the most important underlying reason [ 85 ].

Related factors

A girl's education was the major individual factor associated with child marriage. Education promotes girls' awareness of all aspects of reproductive health and the negative outcomes of pregnancy [ 53 , 58 , 62 , 70 , 90 ]. Educated girls are better aware of their rights and can make the right decision about their lives [ 41 , 57 , 63 , 66 , 88 , 90 ]. They spend time studying [ 47 , 54 ] and have the opportunity to land a job to delay marriage [ 49 , 59 ]. Education not only prevents girls from getting pregnant and sick, but also improves their social and economic status, allowing them to live in cities [ 45 ]. Educated girls can contribute to the health and well-being of their families, and they tend to marry men of their own age [ 60 ]. Unavailability of education for any reason including insurgency and armed conflict increases the likelihood of child marriage [ 66 ]. In parts of Ethiopia, social norms are so strong that awareness fails to prevent child marriage. Virginity assurance, access to resources and safe future are the most important norms in this country to encourage child marriage [ 43 , 63 ].

Age of starting sex was associated with early marriage. Increased libido in young people around the world can possibly explain this issue [ 64 , 66 ].

Education also plays an important role among the interpersonal factors associated with child marriage. Low education also affects parents' understanding of the nature and purpose of marriage, economic factors, environmental factors, personal desires, religious factors, early marriage culture, and adolescents' perception of free sex [ 58 ]. Farmer parents usually have low education and socio-economic status, which can be a reason for their daughters’ early marriage [ 47 , 56 ]. Husband's education is also effective in child marriage. Girls who marry early mostly have uneducated husbands. Generally, men tend to marry women who are less educated (than themselves), and as a result, average-educated men choose women with an average or below-average level of education, which eventually leads to early marriage [ 50 ]. Increasing men's awareness of the adverse effects of early marriage can reduce the rate of marrying girls under 18 years [ 61 ]. Husband's occupation also affects children's marriage due to the education level. Manual workers and farmers marry children because of their low education level [ 50 ]. Family size and type can also affect child marriage. Child marriage has been reported in large families [ 51 , 53 ], and nuclear families [ 45 ] both, so it is difficult to establish the relationship between family type and child marriage. Yet, there is evidence to support the finding that households of more than 5 are associated with child marriage [ 41 , 47 ].

At the community level, various factors were found to be related to child marriage, with one of them being socioeconomic status.. In societies with a low socio-economic status such as India [ 72 ], Bangladesh [ 39 , 48 , 50 , 61 ], Ghana [ 52 ], Ethiopia [ 53 , 54 , 62 ], and Indonesia [ 57 , 70 ], early marriage reduces financial burden, increases income and improves economic conditions. Adolescents from poor families do not have jobs, and parents with low income cannot afford the living expenses of young girls. In these conditions, girls are considered as a burden, and with marriage, the family's economic pressure is lowered. In fact, in these families, child marriage has been considered an economic strategy [ 38 , 50 , 52 – 54 , 59 , 70 ].

Sometimes, girls' stubbornness, curiosity or materialistic desires lead to marriage [ 52 ]. In Ethiopia (2021) new brides provide income for their families mainly through "macha" (money and livestock paid by the groom's family). In poor families, the loss of educational opportunities [ 57 , 59 ], and low parental awareness of the adverse effects of early marriage increase child marriage [ 50 ]. Poverty is exacerbated in areas prone to natural disasters, making it difficult for the poor to pay their dowries. In these circumstances, parents' concern for girls' safety increases [ 48 ]. Regional as well as religious differences can also account for the rate of early marriage [ 90 ].

Research evidence shows that the place/region of residence also affects child marriage as it sets the stage for education, awareness, job opportunities, required amenities, access to mass media, formation of norms and beliefs in people, poverty, natural disasters, differences in urbanization, and religion. Differences in socioeconomic development across regions have led to growth in education [ 47 ], and increased access to the internet, media and information [ 50 , 51 ]. Girls in developed and urban places of residence tend to delay marriage as most of them have higher education and more job opportunities than peers in less developed places [ 48 , 50 , 51 , 57 ]. In rural areas, women may not adequately perceive the impact of marriage on their health, education, economy, and even their rights [ 63 ]. What's more, the socio-economic status and traditional norms differ across geographical regions, which can encourage child marriage [ 50 ].

Ethnicity affects child marriage through cultural norms and education level. In Arab nations, cultural norms promote child marriage [ 42 ]. Parents' decision to marry children under the influence of traditions is another factor affecting child marriage. In Nepal, where the Sundanese have the highest number of child marriages, the traditional customs and cultural factors of these ethnic groups make parents responsible for deciding on the right man to marry; thus, girls do not have the right to make independent decisions [ 58 ].

At the societal level, religion was the sole factor associated with child marriage. Child marriage is more prevalent in certain religions, such as Islam [ 39 , 47 , 50 , 69 ] and Hinduism [ 60 , 72 ]. There is no clear answer to how religion affects child marriage. The classic interaction of religion and culture [ 91 ] and the absence of a legal age for marriage [ 92 ] can increase the rate of child marriage. Instances of sociocultural norms [ 68 ] are the priority of marrying a family's eldest son in Bangladesh [ 50 ], virginity of girls in Ghana [ 52 ] and Ethiopia [ 68 ], the desire for normative structures such as kinship and extended family [ 54 ], family desire to maintain a good name [ 93 , 94 ], stigmatizing single girls [ 95 ] and limited right of decision-making [ 96 ]. As a result of this rigid marriage tradition, it forces young women to marry at a young age.

Limitations of study

There are several limitations in the present study. The first point to consider is that the search was for English-language articles only. Thus, if an article was published in other languages, it was not retrieved in the present review. Second, there is a risk of generalizing the present findings because most articles are from low-income countries. Third, the extensive data made it hard to perform a meta-analysis; thus, it was decided to review the studies qualitatively. Fourth, the present search originally aimed to find the prevalence of child marriage. However, a review of the data led to the emergence of factors associated with child marriage. There were no effective factors in the search process, so many studies that investigated effective factors were missed, yet this study can be a good guide for future researchers.

The present study showed that the prevalence of child marriage is high in many regions of Africa and South Asia. Although interventions to reduce child marriage are underway and the trend of child marriage is decreasing, further acceleration is needed to achieve the 2030 development goals. Also, the present study identified the most important factors associated with child marriage, including low education, poor socio-economic status, rural residence, less developed nature of the place of residence, religions such as Islam, Hinduism and Christianity, a lack of access to media, and decision-making on marriage by parents. These factors are interconnected like a network, and it is essential to perceive the intricacies of these relationships.

Estimating the prevalence of child marriage and identifying the associated factors will enable researchers, policy makers, decision makers and health service providers to guide evidence-based planning to sooner and better achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Empowering girls and parents, developing internet access, access to media, and reducing inequality and poverty are the most important solutions at regional and global levels.

Acknowledgements

The authors hope to thank the Deputy of research and technology in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.

Abbreviations

Authors’ contributions

Designed the study, selection of articles, study quality assessment, data extraction AP and MAA, HA, SBTS. Wrote the paper and made revisions; AP and MAA, Reviewing the manuscript critically; SBTS and NP. Supervision and conceptualization: NP. The final version of the manuscript has been read and approved by all authors and the conditions of authorship have been observed.

There is no fund used in this study.

Availability of data and materials

Declarations.

Ethics approval was received from the ethics committee of deputy of research and technology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (IR.MUMS.FHMPM.REC.1401.126).

Not applicable.

The authors declare no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Asma Pourtaheri and Seyedeh Belin Tavakoly Sany contributed as the first author.

Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Child Marriage — An Examination of Child Marriage Impact and Eradication

An Examination of Child Marriage Impact and Eradication

• Categories: Arranged Marriage Child Marriage

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Published: Sep 6, 2023

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Table of contents

The prevalence of child marriage, the root causes of child marriage, the consequences of child marriage, addressing child marriage.

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Solutions to end child marriage

Child Marriage

Summary of the evidence

This policy brief highlights five evidence-based strategies identified by ICRW to delay or prevent child marriage: 1) Empower girls with information, skills and support networks; 2) Provide economic support and incentives to girls and their families; 3) Educate and rally parents and community members; 4) Enhance girls’ access to a high-quality education; and 5) Encourage supportive laws and policies. In order for the next generation of development programs to make ending child marriage a priority, policymakers must pay attention to these strategies while continuing to test innovative approaches and evaluation techniques.

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Child marriage factsheets, new insights on preventing child marriage, how to end child marriage: action strategies for prevention and protection.

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Marriage Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on marriage.

In general, marriage can be described as a bond/commitment between a man and a woman. Also, this bond is strongly connected with love, tolerance, support, and harmony. Also, creating a family means to enter a new stage of social advancement. Marriages help in founding the new relationship between females and males. Also, this is thought to be the highest as well as the most important Institution in our society. The marriage essay is a guide to what constitutes a marriage in India. 

Whenever we think about marriage, the first thing that comes to our mind is the long-lasting relationship. Also, for everyone, marriage is one of the most important decisions in their life. Because you are choosing to live your whole life with that 1 person. Thus, when people decide to get married, they think of having a lovely family, dedicating their life together, and raising their children together. The circle of humankind is like that only. 

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As it is seen with other experiences as well, the experience of marriage can be successful or unsuccessful. If truth to be held, there is no secret to a successful marriage. It is all about finding the person and enjoying all the differences and imperfections, thereby making your life smooth. So, a good marriage is something that is supposed to be created by two loving people. Thus, it does not happen from time to time. Researchers believe that married people are less depressed and more happy as compared to unmarried people. 

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Concepts of Marriage

There is no theoretical concept of marriage. Because for everyone these concepts will keep on changing. But there are some basic concepts which are common in every marriage. These concepts are children, communication , problem-solving , and influences. Here, children may be the most considerable issue. Because many think that having a child is a stressful thing. While others do not believe it. But one thing is sure that having children will change the couple’s life. Now there is someone else besides them whose responsibilities and duties are to be done by the parents. 

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