Girls who marry young often drop out of school and face physical risks, especially during pregnancy. … Rapid growth of the child population in African countries makes it increasingly urgent that countries accelerate their efforts to address child marriage.
Why do child marriages happen in Africa?
Others are pushed into marriage once they leave school. Poor access to quality education can also contribute to child marriage: when schools are too expensive, far, or poor quality, many families may pull their daughters out, leaving them at greater risk of marriage.
Where is child marriage most common?
Niger has the highest overall prevalence of child marriage in the world. However, Bangladesh has the highest rate of marriage involving girls under age 15. South Asia is home to almost half (42 per cent) of all child brides worldwide; India alone accounts for one third of the global total.
Is child marriage legal in Africa?
More than 30,000 underage girls entered into arranged marriages in 2018. The country reformed its family law in 2004, but still allows young girls to marry before the legal age of 18 with the permission of a judge, and under circumstances such as a pregnancy.
What is the main cause of child marriage?
Causes of child marriages include poverty, bride price, dowry, cultural traditions, religious and social pressures, regional customs, fear of the child remaining unmarried into adulthood, illiteracy, and perceived inability of women to work for money.
Which country has child brides?
Top countries for child marriage
- Niger* — 76%
- Central African Republic* — 68%
- Chad* — 67%
- Bangladesh* — 59%
- Mali* — 52%
- South Sudan* — 52%
- Burkina Faso — 52%
- Guinea — 51%
6.07.2018
How common is child marriage in Africa?
Average prevalence across the region remains high: about 41 per cent of girls marry before reaching the age of 18. Rapid growth of the child population in African countries makes it increasingly urgent that countries accelerate their efforts to address child marriage.
What is the youngest age you can get married in the world?
In the majority of countries, 18 is the marriageable age as of right. However, most of these countries allow those younger than that age to marry, usually with parental consent or judicial authorization. These exceptions vary considerably by country.
What is the youngest age you can marry in the United States?
An individual can marry in the United States as of right, without parental consent or other authorization, on reaching 18 years of age (and used to be 21 years of age before 1971) as that is the age of majority, in all states except in Nebraska, where the general marriage age is 19 as that is the age of majority and …
What country is it legal to marry a child?
And in many other countries, such as Iraq, Jamaica and Uruguay, children can marry with parental permission. In about one-in-five countries (38), there are different age minimums for men and women. For example, in Bangladesh, women must be 18 and men must be 21 to marry.
At what age can a girl get married in Africa?
For example, 37 of 41 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (90%) have legislated minimum marriage ages of 18 or older for females. However, 12 of the 37 permit marriage before age 18 with parental consent, thus allowing parents to marry off their daughters before they reach adulthood.
Can a 12 year old get married in the US?
This is a fact! While 18 is the minimum marriage age in most states, there are exceptions in every state that allow children younger than 18 to marry, typically with parental consent or judicial approval.
How can we stop child marriage in Africa?
To fight early child marriage, African governments must support services that enable girls to access information on sexual and reproductive health, as well as services to protect themselves from unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, delaying giving birth to a later age.
Who stopped child marriages?
It came into effect six months later on 1 April 1930 and applied to all of British India. It was a result of social reform movement in India. Despite strong opposition from the British authorities, the legislation was passed by the British Indian Government which had a majority of Indians.
What are disadvantages of child marriage?
Child marriage is driven by poverty and has many effects on girls’ health: increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases, cervical cancer, malaria, death during childbirth, and obstetric fistulas. Girls’ offspring are at increased risk for premature birth and death as neonates, infants, or children.
Is child marriage still happening?
Child marriage is one such practice. In many places, it has happened for generations and has become normal and accepted. In some contexts, a girl becomes a woman when she starts to menstruate.