Forced teenage marriages and their effects

whereemotionsflow

Dec 27, 20245 min read

By Esha Irfan

Forced marriages

Forced child marriage is any formal marriage or informal union where one or both people are under 18 years old.

A forced marriage is where one or both people do not consent to the marriage and pressure or abuse is used. Pressure can include threats, physical or sexual violence, and financial pressure. All child marriages are forced, because a child cannot provide informed consent, and are therefore a violation of children's rights.

(ActionAid UK)

One in every five girls is being targeted

Worldwide, more than 650 million women alive today were married as children. Every year, at least 12 million girls are married before they reach the age of 18. This is 28 girls every minute. One in every five girls is married, or in union, before reaching age 18. In the least developed countries, that number doubles: 40 percent of girls are married before age 18, and 12 percent of girls are married before age 15. The practice is particularly widespread in conflict-affected countries and humanitarian settings.

(Unicef)

The 10 countries with the highest rates of forced child marriages

Nepal 52% in total(15% before the age of 15) (37% after the age of 15 but before age 18)

Burkina Faso 52% in total(9% before the age of 15) (43% after the age of 15 but before age 18)

Ethiopia 58% in total(25% before the age of 15) (33% after the age of 15 but before age 18)

Guinea 58% in total(24% before the age of 15) (34% after the age of 15 but before age 18)

India 58% in total(26% before the age of 15) (32% after the age of 15 but before age 18)

Central African Republic 60% in total(22% before the age of 15) (38%

after the age of 15 but before age 18)

Mali 61% in total(13% before the age of 15) (48% after the age of 15 but before age 18)

Chad 69% in total(30% before the age of 15) (39% after the age of 15 but before age 18)

Bangladesh 74% in total(39% before the age of 15) (35% after the age of 15 but before age 18)

Niger 77% in total(29% before the age of 15) (48% after the age of 15 but before age 18)

(UNICEF Data)

Causes of forced marriages

● Poverty

Being poor is the underlying cause for so many of the world’s issues. Whenever families are offered a large sum of money in exchange for their daughter’s hand, it is hard to refuse.

● Protection

Whenever a woman is raped or has sex outside of marriage, in some cultures, the blame falls directly onto the woman. In many cases, she is outcast from her society with no way to make a living or marry. Many parents want to protect their daughters from this fate no matter what the cost. By marrying their daughters at young ages, they believe they are protecting any unwanted sexual violence or acts with their daughter.

(End Slavery Now)

● Humanitarian crisis

Financial instability and sexual violence are prevalent in humanitarian crises. In a 2012 report, the UNFPA noted, “In times of conflict and natural disaster, parents may marry off their young daughters as a last resort, either to bring the family some income in time of economic hardship, or to offer the girl some sort of protection, particularly in contexts where sexual violence is common.

● Education

Studies have indicated that the level of education that a girl receives seems to be directly correlated with the likelihood that she will be married before she is 18. Girls who have no education are three times more likely than girls with at least a secondary education to marry when they are still children, whereas girls with only a primary education are twice as likely to marry before they are 18 as girls with at least secondary education. (StopVaW)

Impacts of forced marriages

● Fear

Privately, they may feel frightened, lonely and withdraw into themselves. ● Health problems

This can lead to mental and physical health problems including depression, eating disorders and self-harm.

● Domestic abuse

They are often apart from their family and can suffer domestic abuse at the hands of their husband or in-laws.

● Financial problems

They may experience financial problems, lack of family support and stigma in their community.

● Consequences

The victim may also worry about the consequences for their in-laws and their own family if they walk out on a forced marriage and report it to an authority.

● Difficulty to leave

Those who have lived in an unconsented union for a long time may find it difficult to leave, especially if they have children.

(BBC)

Current Situation

Worldwide, more than 700 million women alive today were married before their 18th birthday. More than one in three(about 250 million) entered into union before age 15. Boys are also married as children, but girls are disproportionately affected. In Niger, for instance, 77% of women aged 20-49 were married before age 18 in contrast to 5% of men in the same age group. Even in the countries where child marriage is less, the same gender differences are found. Furthermore girls are often married to considerably older men.

(UNICEF Data)

Prevention for forced marriages

● Ban on marriage for people under the age of 18

To marry both the partners must be at least 18 years old. If someone under 18 gets married abroad this is considered child marriage. The marriage will only be recognised once both partners have reached the age of 18.

● Raising awareness

We should raise awareness about forced marriages and about the rights of women. ● Education

Women should be given proper education and they should not be forced to marry someone before completing their degree.

● Help for victims

We should provide assistance to the victims of forced marriages and abandonment. ● Government

Government should take action against such marriages.

(Government of the Netherlands)

Summary

Forced marriage is a severe and pervasive human rights violation that affects millions of individuals worldwide, predominantly women and girls, causing irreparable physical and emotional trauma, limiting their educational and economic opportunities, and perpetuating intergenerational cycles of poverty, inequality, and social injustice. Specifically, it is an egregious violation of women's and girls' rights, leading to physical and emotional trauma, restricted education and economic prospects, and entrenched poverty and inequality.

References

● Forced marriages

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.act ionaid.org.uk/our-work/womens-rights/child-marriage&ved=2ahUKEwiwu7yCtcOKAxVb2 QIHHYvONuMQFnoECBEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw38bZPHk9jKGeO4rF7Zt2z7 ● One in every five girls

Statistica research department (2024, July 4)

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.oh chr.org/en/women/child-and-forced-marriage-including-humanitarian-settings%23:~:text %3DDefinitions%2520of%2520child%2520marriage%2520and,settings%2520(source:% 2520UNICEF).&ved=2ahUKEwi2zv20tcOKAxUgTqQEHYLINYQQzsoNegQIDRAC&usg =AOvVaw0VV4qZBY1ryJlHp9ZAdfa9