The report, "Untying the Knot: Exploring Early Marriage in Fragile States," studied the situation in Somalia, Bangladesh, and Niger, and found that fear of rape, premarital pregnancy, hunger, and homelessness were all drivers of early marriage.
Of the 25 countries with the highest rates of early marriage, the majority are affected by conflict, fragility, or natural disasters, the report finds. And girls trapped in early marriage tend to be poor, under-educated, and living in rural areas where birth and death rates are high and where conflict is common.
Other drivers included harmful traditional practices and the lack of alternative opportunities for girls — in particular, the lack of opportunity to go to school. Girls will also marry because of threats and coercion.
Top 10 countries with the highest child marriage rates
|
Country
|
Percent (%) married before 15
|
Percent (%) married before 18
|
|
1. Niger*
|
36%
|
75%
|
|
2. Chad*
|
35%
|
72%
|
|
3. Bangladesh*
|
32%
|
66%
|
|
4. Guinea
|
20%
|
66%
|
|
5. Central African Republic
|
21%
|
61%
|
|
6. Mali*
|
15%
|
55%
|
|
7. Mozambique*
|
17%
|
52%
|
|
8. Nepal*
|
10%
|
51%
|
|
9. Malawi*
|
9%
|
50%
|
|
10. Ethiopia*
|
24%
|
49%
|
* Countries where World Vision works to help build communities that promote and provide for women and girls’ development along with men and boys.
Early marriage poses serious challenges
Suborna’s father arranged early marriage for her several times.But she managed to avoid early marriage with the support of World Vision staff in Bangladesh.
"The fun of planning a wedding and the heady excitement of the first weeks of marriage will not be the experience of 13.5 million girls this year," the report says. One in nine girls around the world is forced to marry before her 15th birthday. Those who are subjected to early marriage are more likely to experience domestic violence, forced sexual relations, poor reproductive health, and lower levels of education, according to the report.
Early marriage poses a serious challenge to extremely hard-won development gains in least developed countries. And yet, in the face of these facts and the widespread condemnation of the practice, early marriage continues to flourish.
Combating early marriage
The report makes several recommendations to reduce early marriage:
-
Enforce existing laws that prohibit early marriage
-
Improve access to quality education
-
Create safe areas for women and girls during humanitarian emergencies
-
Mobilize enlightened community leaders and parents to combat gender prejudices
Click here to learn more about "Child Marriage"
Suborna’s father arranged early marriage for her several times. But she managed to avoid early marriage with the support of World Vision staff in Bangladesh.
After escaping from early marriage, Beatriz stepping up toward her dream of becoming a teacher. "Marrying only after completing my training as a teacher," she says. (Mozambique)
Gift Catalogue
