Child marriage is a serious problem. Girls who get married early face many problems, including health issues, poverty, lack of education, and violence.
The coronavirus pandemic has made things worse. If the current rate of increase in child marriage continues, more than 100 million girls will have married before the age of 18 by the year 2030.
Child marriage is a human rights violation. The child marriage rate is higher for girls than for boys. Child marriage is often the product of entrenched gender inequality.
Child marriage is a practice that takes away girls’ childhood and puts them at risk of domestic violence.
Marriage at a young age increases a woman’s risk of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her husband. Their children are also more likely to be abused as well. Countries should work to end child marriages.
Child brides are usually young girls who get married very early in life. This causes many problems for them and their children. Their mothers may be forced into prostitution or drug addiction.
The child bride may suffer from depression and anxiety. She may also feel isolated from her community because she doesn’t know any other women.
Child marriage affects girls’ health, future, and family. Girls who marry young suffer more than other women because they miss out on education and training.
This leads to:
- poor nutrition
- lack of access to healthcare services
- less opportunity to earn an income
- higher risks of domestic violence and of HIV/AIDS.
These consequences lead to lower levels of educational attainment and reduced productivity.
UNICEF’s Response
Child marriage is a problem in many parts of the world. Reasons for this include economic hardship, inadequate schooling, and inadequate medical care.
In some cases, girls are married off by their parents to help support the family economically. Other times, marriages are arranged by families to ensure the future security of the girl.
Norms and stereotypes around gender roles and marriage age, as well as the socio-economic risks of pregnancy outside of marriage, uphold the practice. UNICEF is an international organization whose mission is to better the lives of children all over the world. They work with many different groups, such as governments, non-governmental organizations, and individuals.
- They help improve the lives of children by providing education and healthcare services.
- UNICEF helps prevent child marriages by providing information about how to stay away from dangerous situations.
- UNICEF also provides information about how to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
- UNICEF also focuses on helping women who are pregnant or who have given birth. They provide them with information about how to take care of themselves during this time.
