The eradication of child marriage is slowly occurring
however, the rates are still high with 66 per cent of girls are married before
the age of 18. Over one third of girls are married before the age of 15.
Legally, the minimum age of marriage is 21 for boys and 18 for girls.
Each year, 15 million girls are married before the age of
18. That is 28 girls every minute – married off too soon, endangering their
personal development and wellbeing. With more young people on our planet than
ever before, child marriage is a human rights violation that we must end to
achieve a fairer future for all.
Child brides are often disempowered, dependent on their
husbands and deprived of their fundamental rights to health, education and
safety. Neither physically nor emotionally ready to become wives and mothers,
child brides are at greater risk of experiencing dangerous complications in
pregnancy and childbirth, becoming infected with HIV/AIDS and suffering
domestic violence. With little access to education and economic opportunities,
they and their families are more likely to live in poverty.
Nations also feel the impact: a system that undervalues the
contribution of young women limits its own possibilities. In this way, child
marriage drains countries of the innovation and potential that would enable
them to thrive.
Child marriage persists across countries, fuelled by
poverty, social and cultural norms. For many families, it is a perceived
economic need – one less mouth to feed. Long-held beliefs and traditions based
on gender inequality mean that becoming a wife and mother is often deemed a
daughter’s only choice.Early marriage causes girls to drop out of education and limits their opportunities for social interaction. Only 45 per cent of adolescent girls are enrolled in secondary school and even fewer attend regularly. New brides are expected to work in their husbands’ households and are subject to the same hazards as child domestic workers.
Early marriage leads to early pregnancy. One third of teenage girls aged 15 to 19 are mothers or are already pregnant. Adolescent mothers are more likely to suffer from birthing complications thean adult womean.
Plan Bangladesh has been working in Bangladesh to help poor
children access their rights to health, education, economic security and
protection and we have helped to lower the number of child marriages in the
provinces where we work. However, given that the rate of child marriage in
Bangladesh is one of the highest in the world, this is still a cause of concern
and more can be done to create awareness and compel action.