Child Marriage

What is Child Marriage?

Child marriage violates children’s rights and places them at elevated risk of violence, exploitation, and abuse. Child marriage affects both girls and boys, but it affects girls disproportionately. Child marriage ends childhood. It negatively influences children’s rights to education, health, and protection. These consequences impact not just the girl directly, but also her family and community. 

Negative Effect of Child Marriage

A girl who is married as a child is more likely to be out of school and not earn money and contribute to the community. At least 1.5 million girls under 18 get married in India, which makes it home to the largest number of child brides in the world - accounting for a third of the global total. 

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Declining Rate of Child Marriage

16 per cent adolescent girls aged 15-19 are currently married. While the prevalence of girls getting married before age 18 has declined from 47 per cent to 27 per cent between 2005-2006 and 2015-2016 it is still too high. Child marriage, a deeply rooted social norm, provides glaring evidence of widespread gender inequality and discrimination.

For Government Initiatives read this blog - Government Measures by Kush Gupta