Child Bride

The two words child and bride sound contradictory, as one usually considers marriage a facet of adult life. However, the practice of marrying young girls—many times before they reach age 18 and sometimes even before puberty—is common in developing countries, such as those in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

A United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) survey indicates that in many countries of sub-Saharan Africa, high percentages of girls between the age of 15 and 19 are married. For example, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 74 percent of the girls are married by age 18, 50 percent in Mali, 57 percent in Niger, and 50 percent in Uganda. In South Asian countries—India, Nepal, and Bangladesh—the percentages are 38, 42, and 48 respectively. In the Middle East, 28 percent of Iraqi girls under age 19 are married, and 24 percent in Yemen. In Latin America, the percentage is 29 in Cuba and 24 in Guatemala. In addition, marriages of young girls below age 13 are common in rural parts of South Asian and South African countries.

Although most countries have laws that prohibit child marriage, the customary practice of child marriage continues for various reasons. People consider girls economic burdens on their families. In countries such as India, earlier marriage may mean a lower dowry payment by the bride's family. Child marriage “protects” girls from the dangers of sexual assault and pregnancy outside of marriage. It ensures obedience and subservience of young brides to their husbands, thereby furthering patriarchy and dominant classes of society. Most importantly, child marriage continues because of poor implementation of laws against the custom.

Child marriages have serious harmful consequences for child brides and violate their human rights. The reproductive health of child brides can be seriously compromised by early pregnancy, maternal and infant mortality, unsafe abortions, and damage to reproductive or alimentary organs (rendering the young woman undesirable as a wife, divorceable, and therefore, a social outcast). Child brides are more vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and AIDS. Malnutrition-induced anemia can seriously affect these girls' physical development. Child marriages may expose young brides to genderbased domestic violence. Marriage denies young women the opportunity to choose a life partner and affects their autonomy in all aspects of their lives. Early marriage denies them educational opportunities, independence from their husbands, and other opportunities for personal development.

Considering these severe consequences on young girls' lives, activists are making efforts at regional, national, and international levels to prohibit child marriages.