Child marriage is not only a violation of a girl’s rights; it also seriously compromises efforts to reduce gender-based violence, advance education, overcome poverty and improve health indicators. Child brides in Southern Asia are often forced into early sexual activity and therefore early childbearing. Because their bodies are not yet fully developed, these young adolescents are at much greater risk of suffering life- threatening or debilitating conditions as a result of childbirth like obstetric fistula and hemorrhaging, or even death. Countless child brides all over the region are in danger of such a fate: Girls between the ages of 15 and 19 are twice as likely to die of pregnancy and childbirth complications as women between ages of 20 and 24 according to UNICEF figures on child marriage in the region. Also, girls are more vulnerable to contracting life-threatening diseases as they are often given away to much older men who have an elevated chance of being HIV positive or having other sexually-transmitted infections because of prior sexual experience.In spite of these well-meaning laws, child marriage in the countries of Southern Asia remains one of the greatest development challenges the region faces today. A dangerous combination of entrenched poverty and customs that are deeply rooted in patriarchal tradition, continue to fuel the harmful practice. Economic strain, customary law and cultural practices often trump national policies and legislation, rendering many education programmes unable to retain girls despite best efforts. As a result, the practice continues to thrive in the region – even in those countries that have set the legal age of marriage for girls.
#ChildMarriage #Child #ChildRights
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Publisher:
UNFPA, AFPPD, ICRW
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(2012
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Type / Script:
Progress Report
in English
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Keywords:
EARLY MARRIAGE, GENDER BASED VIOLENCE, POVERTY, ADOLESCENTS, DISEASES, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES, HIV/AIDS, CHILD BRIDES, POLICY, ILLITERACY, RURAL AREAS, BUILDING SECURITY, PREMATURE INFANTS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, LAW ENFORCEMENT, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX, BIRTH REGISTRATION, GENDER EQUALITY, REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, EDUCATION, PRIMARY EDUCATION, SECONDARY EDUCATION, SCHOOLS, MATERNAL MORTALITY, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, FAMILY PLANNING, HEALTH EDUCATION, HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
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Thematic Group:
UNFPA
:
Population studies
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Thesaurus:
08.01.00
- Population Dynamics
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Reference Link:
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