“Is an End to Child Marriage Within Reach?” Report

May 5, 2023

Child marriage remains a prevalent issue worldwide, with many underage individuals forced into marriage despite various rules and laws prohibiting the practice. The United Nations defines child marriage as a marriage under the age of 18 and considers it a fundamental violation of human rights. Both boys and girls are placed in disadvantageous positions by child marriage, with girls often experiencing early pregnancy, interrupted schooling, limited opportunities, and domestic violence. In contrast, boys may face adult roles for which they are unprepared, overburdened with economic pressure, and unable to progress in life. In this regard, the UNICEF recently released a report titled ‘Is an End to Child Marriage Within Reach?’.

Prevalence of Child Marriage

West and Central Africa have the highest rates of child marriages, with one in three women being married before the age of 18 in these parts of the continent. Child marriage rates are somewhat lower in Eastern and Southern Africa, South Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East and North Africa. Roughly 115 million children worldwide were married before reaching the age of 18.

Progress in South Asia

There have been some positive signs in the fight against child marriage, particularly in South Asia, where a girl’s likelihood of marrying in childhood dropped by nearly half, from 46 per cent to 26 per cent. India has played a significant role in driving this progress, although Bangladesh, Maldives, and Pakistan have also shown notable declines.

Concerns About the Future of Child Marriage

Although there has been a decline in the rate of child marriage, about 640 million girls, teens, and women have been victims of child marriage, and 12 million girls and teens worldwide become brides each year. The rate of decline in child marriages is not significant enough, and at this rate, the practice of child marriage will continue to exist for 300 more years.

UNICEF has expressed fears that child marriage’s hard-won gains may be eliminated due to global conflicts, the COVID-19 pandemic, and climate change. According to the agency, the COVID-19 pandemic could result in over 10 million child marriages between 2020 and 2030. The UNICEF report mentions sub-Saharan Africa as a region of special concern, with the rate of child marriages expected to increase by 10 per cent by 2030. Girls in the region are especially at risk of child marriage compared to the rest of the world.