Girls, who have just walked into adolescence age and dont know anything about sexual life, are forced to get into physical relationship after marriage. Indeed, marrying girls when they reach puberty is a strategy to prevent pregnancy outside marriage. While early marriage takes many different forms and has various causes, one issue is paramount. Jan 08, 2019 early child marriage in nigeria is a violation of the fundamental human rights of women as many girls are forced into marriage against their freewill and consent. The paper examines the socioeconomic effect of early marriage in north western nigeria using zaria local government as a case study.
Regionally, there have been a number of african mechanisms and institutions that have recognised and taken steps to address the harmful impact of child marriage. Under the child rights act 2003, the minimum legal age of marriage is 18 years. First of all, if you ask a question if it is legal to force children into marriage, it is actually not legal according to the childs rights act of 2003, where it is pointed out that. Negative effect of early girl child marriage on nigeria the. Negative effect of early girl child marriage on nigeria. However some countries allow marriages at 16 years as well, especially for the girl children. The child rights act, passed in 2003, raised the minimum age of marriage to 18 for girls. The socioeconomic effect of early marriage in north. Insights into early marriage and girls education in. In many parts of the world parents encourage the marriage of their daughters while they are still children in hopes that the marriage will benefit them both financially and socially, while also. After conducting indepth interviews with girls and young women in nigeria, the population council devel oped messages encouraging delayed marriage and supporting. Pdf early marriage and its implications on the nigerian economy.
It results in lost of development opportunities, limited life options and generally poor health. Sufficient data were available to generate regional averages for south asia, africa and latin america and the caribbean. In many cultures, including that of nigeria, marriage is regarded as a legitimate way for two. Bunting, annie and merry, sally engle, global regulation and local political struggles. The national strategic plan to end child marriage in nigeria 20162021 aims to highlight the multisectoral, multifaceted activities needed to end child marriage in nigeria.
Early marriage and its implications on the nigerian economy. Introduction marriage is a union ordained by god and is the only remarkable event in a human life that is associated with choice. The practice of child marriage in nigeria huffpost. Legality of child marriage in nigeria and inhibitions against realisation of education rights kayode olatunbosun fayokun obafemi awolowo university, ileife, nigeria early marriage forces girls into adulthood before they are emotionally and physically matured, leading to a range of. The share of girls marrying very early, before the age of 15. Globally, 1 in 4 young women alive today were married in childhood versus 1 in 3 in the early. Every minute a girlchild is married off against her will, education attainment. Ethiopia and the international community are increasingly aware of the negative impacts of child marriage. Every minute a girlchild is married off against her will, education attainment terminated and dreams aborted by this. Ending child marriage in africa human rights watch. Rates are 17% in the middle east and north africa, and 11% in eastern europe and central asia.
Whether it happens to a girl or a boy, early marriage is a violation of human rights. Child marriage in west and central africa the prevalence of child marriage in west and central africa is 41 percent. In algeria, the minimum age of marriage for females is 18, which is quite acceptable. In subsaharan africa, a staggering 40 percent of girls marry before age 18, and african countries account for 15 of the 20 countries with the highest rates of child marriage. Identify government aid towards the stopping of early marriage in nigeria. Pdf negative effect of early girlchild marriage on. The causes, consequences and solutions to forced child.
Child marriage can be considered a form of forced marriage because children are unable. In 2017 in nigeria, 43% of girls are married off before the age of 18. In several culture girls are forced to be married at a very early age due to various. Child rights act states that the age of marriage shall be 18 years. Among women aged 1524, 48 per cent were married before the age of 18 in south asia 9. This article explores the pattern of early marriage in africa. Pdf negative effect of early girlchild marriage on nigeria. In may 2014, the african union au launched a campaign to end child marriage. Child marriage is one of the biggest human rights violations in the world. A couple who married at an early age and lives happily is like a needle in a haystack. How early and delayed marriage impact decisionmaking in ibadan, nigeria 3 international center for research on women reproductive decisionmaking and contraceptive use in general, child brides and nonchild brides agreed that the husband has the final say regarding reproductive matters.
Child marriage causes untold suffering to the victims. However, this masks huge variations between and within countries. Indeed, based on extrapolation, family scholars as early as the turn of the last century had predicted future divorce rates like those actually witnessed in the 1980s coontz, 2005. This changed when boko haram, an extremist terrorist organization based in northeastern nigeria, kidnapped. In many parts of the world parents encourage the marriage of their daughters while they are still children in hopes that the marriage. Early marriage is used to refer both formal marriage and informal unions in which a girl lives with a partner as if married before age of 18,early marriage also known as child marriage is defined as any marriage carried out below the age of18 years before the girl is physically, physiologically. Early marriage in africa trends, harmful effects and interventions judithann walker coordinator, development research and projects centre 63 b sultan road, nassarwa gra, kano state, nigeria email. Early marriage in africa trends, harmful effects and.
Early marriage has been a common practice among many ethnic groups in the world. Early marriage is used to refer both formal marriage and informal unions in which a girl lives with a partner as if married before age of 18, early marriage also known as child marriage is defined as any marriage. However, given southern asias population size and rates of early marriage, about half the girls in early marriage live there. Many poor parents see girls as a burden, marry them off by 12 or and send them to live with their husbands families. Child marriage briefing nigeria population council. Sociocultural factors child marriage in niger is also linked to gender inequality and the status of women in society. Early marriage and forced marriage is most common in subsaharan africa where 38% of girls become child brides. Median age at first marriage or union among women aged 20 to 24 years, in selected countries the practice of child marriage is slowly declining. Child marriage essay introduction causes impact imp days. Child marriage can be considered a form of forced marriage because children are unable to give informed consent. Nigeria, particularly northern nigeria, has some of the highest rates of early marriage in the world. However, federal law may be implemented differently at the state level, and to date, only a few of. However, the main negative influence falls on the young girls who are married off at tender ages.
It is based on the premise of a coordination platform led by the federal ministry of women affairs and social development and cochaired by save the children. The share of women ages 1822 who married as children is 42. Among girls growing up in south asia, 30% experience early marriage, compared with 25% in latin america and the caribbean. The causes, consequences and solutions to forced child marriage. First of all, if you ask a question if it is legal to force children into marriage, it is actually not legal according to the childs rights act of 2003, where it is pointed out that the age of consent for a child is 18 years old. Early marriage in nigeria is against international conventions mentioned earlier in this work, which placed the legal age of consent to marriage at 18 years. Pdf changing dynamics of early marriage in rural areas. Introduction child marriage refers to any marriage of a child younger than eighteen years old, in accordance to article 1 of the convention of the right of the child. Pdf changing dynamics of early marriage in rural areas of. Globally, 1 in 4 young women alive today were married in childhood versus 1 in 3 in the early 1980s. The growing rate of child marriage leads to so many problems and issues in our society. Data shows a 9% decline in the prevalence of child marriage compared to 2003. Building resilience and resistance to child, early, and. The research and preparation of this report were supported by generous funding from.
Progress is most dramatic when it comes to the marriage of girls under 15 years of age. Early marriage is a common feature of girls adolescence in northern nigeria, yet few programs are in place to support this sizeable and vulnerable group. Child marriage unfpa united nations population fund. Changing dynamics of early marriage in rural areas of northern nigeria. Globally, one in every five girls is married, or in union, before reaching age 18. Forced and early marriage is a form of culturallyjustified violence against women as well as a violation of human rights that is endemic in many countries. Under the marriage act 1990 the minimum legal age of marriage 21 years for girls and boys, although they are able to marry before this with written consent from a parent or guardian. Insights into early marriage and girls education in northern. In may 2014, the african union au launched a campaign to end child marriage in africa, by enhancing continental awareness of its. While the age of marriage is generally on the rise, early marriage marriage of children and adolescents below the age of 18 is still widely practiced. In nigeria, by the virtue of s29 4 1, full age means the age of eighteen years and above while the. The extent of early marriage varies between countries and regions.
Whether it happens to a girl or a boy, early marriage. Various studies show a strong correlation between a womans age at marriage. The impact of early marriage taking action the need for research in conclusion links references innocenti digest no. One of the most powerful tools that antichild marriage organizations and womens rights advocates have been campaigning for is to make child marriage illegal by raising the legal age of marriage. It focuses on the subsaharan region as an area with the highest rates of early marriage in the world. Acquiring skills to build resistance to early marriage for inschool girls. Findings from implementation research in nigeria another significant but underresearched issue is. Nigeria has committed to eliminate child, early and forced marriage by 2030 in line with target 5. Among girls growing up in south asia, 30% experience early marriage, compared with. Some countries can allow marriages at 16 years old as an exception. The child rights act, passed in 2003, raised the minimum age. Identify the effect of early marriage on the academic performance on girl child.
Early marriage is the marriage of children and adolescents below the age of 18 years. Limited education and economic options little or no schooling strongly correlates with being married at a young age. Building resilience and resistance to child, early, and forced. Box 4384400100, nairobi, kenya abstract it is the opinion consensuses of a few scholars that the institution of marriage has continued to. Conversely, attending school and having higher levels of education protect girls from the possibility of early marriage. Child marriage, defined as marriage of a child under 18 years of age, is a silent and yet widespread practice. An estimated 22 million child brides live in nigeria. Early child marriage in nigeria is a violation of the fundamental human rights of women as many girls are forced into marriage against their freewill and consent. The study recommended feasible and applicable way forward to abolish and manage the victims of early girlchild marriage. Nigeria is the third country worldwide for absolute number of child brides united nations population fund unfpa. Pdf on jan 1, 2014, babatunde afolabi and others published early. In ethiopia however, early childbirths are in a majority of cases a direct consequence of child marriage. Nigeria is the 11th highest nation in the world for percentage of child marriages. Jun 12, 2014 we as a society must start to realize that the practice of child marriage must cease to persist, for the sake of the future of these girls that are married to early.
Addressing early marriage of young and adolescent girls. As the most populous country in the region, nigeria has the highest number of child brides. Obafemi awolowo university, ileife, nigeria early marriage forces girls into adulthood before they are emotionally and physically matured, leading to a range of harmful effects on their health, education. There are several different laws related to the minimum legal age of marriage in nigeria. In the least developed countries, that number doubles 40 per cent of girls are married before age 18, and 12 per cent of girls are married before age 15. In most cases, early marriages are not good for both sides of the relationships. A reflection on the african traditional values of marriage and sexuality dr. Indeed, marrying girls when they reach puberty is a strategy to prevent pregnancy outside marriage, which is viewed as a source of shame for the family. Child bride forced into marriage makes poisoned meal which kills groom and three of his friends in nigeria. The terrible practice of child marriage is still very common in africa. Early marriage or child marriage is defined as the marriage or unio n between two people in which o ne or both parties are younger than 18 years old mcintyre, 2006.
However, given southern asias population size and rates of early marriage, about half the girls in early marriage. Legal issues, complications, implications, prospects and solutions. National strategy to end child marriage in nigeria 2016. Child spouses this digest focuses on early marriage the marriage of children and young people under the age of 18 from a human rights perspective. Getting married before reaching at this minimum legal age is not only illegal but also against. A reflection on the african traditional values of marriage. The experience of married adolescent girls in northern nigeria. Despite laws against it, the practice remains widespread. Introduction marriage before the age of 18 is a reality for many young women. Child marriage is a cultural issue, but it is also a social justice issue and a national health issue in nigeria. Child bride forced into marriage makes poisoned meal which kills groom and three of his friends in nigeria, daily mail, united kingdom newspaper. To know the general attitude of the public towards early marriage. Nigeria has one of the highest child marriage prevalence rates in the world. In most of the countries the minimum legal age for the child marriage is 18 years.
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