More than 700 million women alive today were married before their 18th birthday. That is the equivalent of 10% of the world’s population. Everything you need know about child marriage- plus how you can help- after the jump!
Child marriage is rooted in gender inequality and in the low value put onto girls. The problem is exacerbated by poverty, insecurity and conflict. Child marriage robs girls of the opportunity to thrive and denies them of their fundamental rights to choice, health, education and safety. Child brides face severe and lifelong consequences including physical, psychological, sexual, and economic abuse.
CHILD MARRIAGE FACTS
-More than 700 million women alive today were married before their 18th birthday. That is the equivalent of 10% of the world’s population.
-If there is no reduction in child marriage, an additional 1.2 billion girls will be married by 2050.
-Some child brides are as young as eight or nine.
-Most adolescent pregnancies (90%) take place within marriage.
-Pregnancy and childbirth complications are among the leading causes of death in girls aged 15 to 19 in low- and middle-income countries.
-15 million girls every years are married before they turn 18
-1 in 3 girls in the developing world are married by age 18
-1 in 9 girls in the developing world are married by age 15
WHY DOES CHILD MARRIAGE OCCUR?
Tradition
Child marriage is a traditional practice that in many places
happens simply because it has happened for generations – and straying from
tradition could mean exclusion from the community.
Gender Inequality
Many times, girls are not valued as much as boys and are
therefore thought of as burdens.
Poverty
In many poverty stricken countries, a girl married off is
one less person to clothe and educate, and one less mouth to feed in a family
that often lacks food security. In some communities, a dowry (or ‘bride price’)
is paid, money that is vital to the well being of many poor families. The price
is often less if the bride is young and uneducated.
WHERE DOES CHILD MARRIAGE OCCUR?
Child marriage is a truly global problem that cuts across
countries, cultures, religions and ethnicities. Child brides can be found in
every region in the world, from the Middle East to Latin America, South Asia to
Europe, even the U.S where 3000 cases of forced marriage were encountered in a
two year period (2009-2011)
10 countries with highest numbers of child marriages:
India
Bangladesh
Nigeria
Brazil
Ethiopia
Pakistan
Indonesia
Democratic Republic of Congo
Mexico
Niger
WHAT DOES CHILD MARRIAGE MEAN FOR GIRLS?
Poverty
With little access to education and economic opportunities,
they and their families are more likely to live in poverty.
Education
Child brides are likely to be forced to drop out of school
which hinders their personal development and their ability to contribute to
their family and community
Inequality
Child brides have little to no say in when and to who they
marry. They are often disempowered and dependent on their husbands.
Health
Child brides are at greater risk of experiencing dangerous
complications in pregnancy and childbirth and becoming infected with HIV/AIDS.
Girls who give birth before the age of 15 are 5 times for likely to die in
childbirth. Pregnancy and childbirth complications are among the leading causes
of death in girls aged 15 to 19 in low- and middle-income countries.
Violence
Child brides often face domestic violence and are more
likely to describe their first sexual experience as forced.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
1. Donate to projects for Girls Not Brides that make a difference in the lives of girls- such as support survivors of sexual violence in Kenya, protect 5000 girls from child marriage in Kenya, help child brides learn new skills in Pakistan, and more!2. Raise your voice and spread the word!
3. Make preventing violence against women an international priority by signing this petition on for CARE.
