What does child marriage look like around the world?

“The marriage – it didn’t go well. Each time my husband wanted to make love to me, he would beat me. He wouldn’t allow me to leave the house. I felt so depressed that I tried to take my own life.” –Lamama, 15, Cameroon [2] 

Lamama was forced out of school to marry her husband, and sadly her story is just one of many. Statistics suggest that one third of girls in the developing world are married before the age of 18, whilst one in nine enter into marriage before the age of 15.[3]  If this trend prevails, 150 million girls will be married before their 18th birthday over the next ten years.[4]  Although boys are also married as children, girls are more disproportionately affected by child marriage. This is often because girls are not valued as highly as boys in the communities where child marriage take place – in these cases, marriage may be seen as a way of easing the economic burden on the girl’s family.

Child marriage thrives in many countries, yet it is most commonly found in South East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, with Niger found to have the highest proportion of child marriage with 76% of girls married before they’re 18.[5] Child marriage tends to occur in rural areas more than urban areas. This is because rural areas are typically more impoverished and consequently, prospects for girls are more limited. Rural areas often have more traditional outlooks where girls who are unmarried have the pressure of society disapproval. Figures also show that girls from poorer backgrounds were more likely to be child brides; females in the poorest quintile are 2.5 times more likely to be implicated in child marriage than those living in the wealthiest quintile.[6]

In Sub-Saharan Africa, these are the countries with the highest levels of child marriage.

What are the causes of forced child marriage?

There are many factors that contribute to child marriage around the world. Often, these contributing factors propagate an environment that encourages forced child marriage and increases the vulnerability of children to slavery. In this section, we’ll discuss a few of the main causes:

Poverty

In the developing world, over half of girls from the poorest families are married as children.[7] For some families, giving a daughter in marriage is a way to reduce expenses – particularly if a son’s education and expenses are prioritized. In some communities, the groom and his family will expect a dowry from the bride’s family – with the idea this money will ensure her care for the foreseeable future. Often, the younger the girl is the lower her dowry – this is because she will be seen to be easier to control in her new home and more likely to be a virgin.

Social and Religious Traditions

In many areas, it is the norm to marry children young. Peer pressure can force parents into marrying their children and can place pressure on young girls to conform to marriage or else expect to be viewed as a “nasty, disrespectful girl”.[8] The fear of pregnancy outside marriage is a major driver, and early marriage is seen a way to safeguard against such immoral behavior.

Gaps in the law and the failure of law enforcement

A lack of strong, effective legislation protecting girls or creating a minimum age of marriage is a key factor. However, even when there are laws in place, law enforcement may not reach into rural areas or may not have the training to deal with cases of forced or underage marriage. Many law enforcement individuals may not view it as their responsibility to interfere with family affairs, or corruption in the system allows perpetrators to pay money to delay or avoid court procedures.

What is the state of Forced Child Marriage in Niger?