The causes, consequences and solutions to forced child marriage. Findings from implementation research in nigeria another significant but underresearched issue is. Mauritania and nigeria, more than half of adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 who are currently married have husbands who are 10 or more years older than they. The child rights act recognises every childs right to name, and holds that the birth of every child shall be registered in accordance with the provisions of the birth, death, etc.
Nigeria is a federal republic composed of 36 states and one federal capital territory abuja. Marriage, defined as a formal or an informal union before the age of full maturity, usually 18, is a multifaceted sociocultural and endemic harmful practice. Nigeria 20 demographic and health survey key findings sr2. In most of the countries the minimum legal age for the child marriage is 18 years. Every year 15 millions girls get married before the age of 18. Fiftyone percent of mothers were married before age 18, ranging from 17% in swaziland, where the median age at marriage was 21 years old, to 75% in chad, where the median age at marriage was 15 years old in the sample. Child marriage and fertility in nigeria english the world. Fragile states eight out of ten countries with the highest child marriage rates are considered fragile states. Many factors interact to place a child at risk of marriage, including poverty, the perception that. 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. Health consequences of child marriage in africa omct in partnership with the centre for law enforcement education 2005. Percentage of women, aged 2024, who were married before age 15. The article recommends a negotiated consensus in determining the minimum age for child marriage, given nigeria s plural and religious constituents. In late modernity, one will presume that child marriage has been outdated but that is so.
If current trends continue, almost half of the worlds child brides in 2050 will be african. Unfortunately, as glamorous such a day of espousal would have been, child marriage has made it sour for child brides as most of them are forced into it, particularly in their midteens. Many factors interact to place a child at risk of marriage, including poverty, the perception that marriage will provide protection, family honor, social norms, customary or religious laws that condone the practice, an inadequate legislative framework and the state of a countrys civil registration system. Dec 12, 2016 child marriage a practice driven by poverty. In 2017 in nigeria, 43% of girls are married off before the age of 18. The compendium ends with key policy recommendations for marriage law reform and actions by au member states and other stakeholders working to end child marriage in africa. Download the mics module on marriage for women pdf. Sure, most of the young age marriages happen in the poorer areas, mainly rural ones. Determinants and effect of girl child marriage african journals online.
The practice of child marriage has continued to decline around the world. Data shows a 9% decline in the prevalence of child marriage compared to 2003. We will analyze some reasons why early child marriage in nigeria is so common. Legal framework for the protection of child rights in nigeria code. Getting married before reaching at this minimum legal age is not only illegal but also against. Early marriage, cohabitation, and childbearing in west africa. Many girls who are married off before they turn 18 or are forced into early marriages are made to leave school, depriving them of their right to education and future independence.
Adopting life course family development perspectives on adolescent sexuality, we examine the linkages between the timing of union formation and childbearing across multiple. Ending child marriage, a guide for global policy action nawal m. As a result, the article proposes three steps to ensure the legal protection of a girl child against child marriage. Abstract this brief has provided a basic profile of child marriage in nigeria. Child marriage unfpa united nations population fund. Child marriage is most common in the north west and north east of nigeria, where 68% and 57% of women aged 2049 were married before their 18th birthday. The practice of child marriages in nigeria has never been pleasant. In simple terms, child marriage is the marriage of a person aged before majority. Forced child marriage is a lifechanging reality for many of the worlds girls. Child marriage statistics show child brides have a diminished chance of completing their education and are at a higher risk of being physically abused, contracting hiv and other diseases, and dying while pregnant or giving. The objective of the survey was to provide uptodate information on fertility levels, marriage, fertility preferences, awareness and use of family planning methods, child feeding practices. Wpf and iheu therefore urge all governments to end child marriage.
Although this law was passed at the federal level, it is only effective if state assemblies also codify the law. Child marriage essay introduction causes impact imp days. According to unicef, nigeria has the third highest absolute number of child brides in the world 3,538,000 and the 11th highest prevalence rate of child marriage globally. Jul 27, 2017 child marriage among girls is most common in south asia and subsaharan africa. Child marriage and fertility in nigeria english the.
Child marriage refers to a formal or informal union in which at least one of the parties is under 18 years of age. Aug 27, 2019 child marriage is the formal or informal marriage of a child under the age of 18 most often the marriage of a young girl to an older boy or man. One third of the girls in developing countries are married before the age of 18, while about one in nine are married before attaining age 15. Home data adolescents and youth dashboard nigeria adolescents and youth dashboard. The share of women ages 1822 who married as children is 42. The aim of this study is to use grounded theory methods to develop a theory about how children are been abused and the consequences of these abuse in nigeria with specific reference to niger delta region. Pdf child marriage in nigeria by chidinma kosa ewelike. The national strategic plan to end child marriage in nigeria. Child marriage and fertility in nigeria english abstract. Child marriages in india the red elephant foundation december 20 e 4 introduction child marriage refers to the marriage of a child younger than 18 years old,1 in accordance to article 1 of the convention on the right of the child.
During the past decade, the proportion of young women who were married as children decreased by 15 per cent, from 1 in 4 25% to approximately 1 in 5 21%. Girlchild marriage in the nigerian society, causes. Building resilience and resistance to child, early, and. These provide for offences against persons and the state, including homicide, assaultschildren. The article recommends a negotiated consensus in determining the minimum age for child marriage, given nigerias plural and religious constituents. Prohibition of withdrawal of a child from the care of. In nigeria, women who marry as children have on average 1833 percent more births over their life time as compared to women marrying after the age of 18. However, a number of societies accept and practice this. The early childhood development index was used to measure child development, and stunting was used to measure health. In may 2014, the african union au launched a campaign to end child marriage in africa, by enhancing continental awareness of its. This brief has provided a basic profile of child marriage in niger.
Some of the causes of early marriage in nigeria include conflict, poverty, religion, and tradition. However some countries allow marriages at 16 years as well, especially for the girl children. This brief has provided a basic profile of child marriage in nigeria. The background, methodology and detailed findings and recommendations of the study are found from the overall report of the study multicountry analytical study of policies, interventions and cultural practices on child marriage in africa. Nigeria 20 demographic and health survey key findings. Using logistic regression, we found that the odds of being offtrack for development and being stunted were 25% and 29% higher, respectively, for children born to women who married before age 18 compared to those whose mothers. Early child marriage in nigeria child marriage customs, a situation whereby children are given into marriage well before they attain puberty occur all over the world particularly in africa, asia, and south america. A violation of human rights child marriage is a violation of human rights. In most cases young girls get married off to significantly older men when they are still children. Bissau, liberia, mali, mauritania, niger, nigeria, sao. Nigeria is the 11th highest nation in the world for percentage of child marriages.
Percentage of women, aged 2024, who were married before age 18 or 15. Introductionedit sourcein 2003, nigeria adopted the child rights act to domesticate the convention on the rights of the child. Child marriage among girls is most common in south asia and subsaharan africa. The prevalence of child marriage in west africa is one of the highest in the global south. This work is a result of a series of technical consultations on child marriage. Prohibition of taking, sending fostered child out of state or nigeria. Firstly, part 1 section 61 of the 1999 constitution should be modified. Child, early, and forced marriage and psychological trauma of girls in northeast. Government includes federal, state and local levels. A guide for global policy action makes a strong case for international action, and strengthens the advocacy efforts of development practitioners and womens and childrens rights activists to end child marriage. The causes, consequences and solutions to forced child. Marriage before the age of 18 is a fundamental violation of human rights. This study is therefore informed by this practice seeks to analyse the cause, impact on the nigerian society as well as determine if available solutions are.
Despite the efforts of the authorities and partners, the rate of child marriage has barely changed in 20 years. Child marriage is the formal or informal marriage of a child under the age of 18 most often the marriage of a young girl to an older boy or man. Section 61 of part i of the 1999 constitution and the protection of children against child marriage. Pdf child marriage is often deployed as a response to crisis, considered by families and communities to be the best. Why ending child marriage needs to be an education goal. Agency for international development in nigeria, and the david and lucille packard foundation, among others. Building resilience and resistance to child, early, and forced. Human rights watch defends the rights of people worldwide. Since the ratification of the crc, the au charter on the rights and welfare of.
The meeting brings together highlevel personalities from member states to share good practices and challenges in ending child marriage. The childrens rights act of 2003 expands the human rights bestowed to citizens in nigerias 1999 constitution to children. These issues are discussed together in the context of the. Pdf the article refers to a recent article on child marriage in nigeria. Revocation of a foster order on grounds of the interest of the child. Legal issues, complications, implications, prospects and solutions article pdf available january 2014 with,619 reads how we measure reads. Girl child marriage as a risk factor for early childhood. Visit to fostered child by child development officers. The act prohibits discrimination on the basis of belonging to a particular community or ethnic group.
Globally, one in every five girls is married, or in union, before reaching age 18. Child marriage is one of the biggest human rights violations in the world. Controlling for socioeconomic and other characteristics, the average number of births per woman. The share of women ages 1822 who married as children is 76. The first is the statutory elaboration of the constitutional protection of children, and the second is the suggestion that religious marriages trump childrens rights in nigerias constitutional jurisprudence. In 2016, child marriage still remains a global issue. Pdf research proposal the consequences of child abuse in. Primarily driven by poverty and economic status, the practice also relies on cultural, traditional and religious motives. Pdf research proposal the consequences of child abuse. Marriage at its right time and with the right and selfselected person is one of the best things that can happen to a man. Over the years we have seen children been married out as bride when they should be in school. Nigeria, particularly northern nigeria, has some of the highest rates of early marriage in the world. The median age at marriage for mothers included in this sample was 17 years old. Feb 04, 2015 the prohibition of child marriage act, 2006 it came into effect on 1 november 2007 to address and fix the shortcomings of the child marriage restraint act boys and girls forced into child marriages as minors have the option of voiding their marriage up to two years after reaching adulthood in certain circumstances, marriages of minors can be.
Child marriage represents a fundamental breach of human rights. Todays society is plagued with a number of challenging issues, one of such issues is early child marriage. In relation to the link between illiteracy and child marriage in nigeria. Child marriage is most common in rural areas 100 80 50 10 90 60 20 70 30 40 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 rural urban child marriage is more common in rural areas child marriage is more common in urban areas togo suriname ghana guyana peru senegal nigeria 15. Some as young as 8 or 9 are forced to trade their childhoods for a life that can be defined by isolation, violence and illness. Rights of the child in nigeria, a report on the implementation of the convention on the rights of the child by nigeria.
We scrupulously investigate abuses, expose the facts widely, and pressure those with power to respect rights and secure justice. Rights of the child in nigeria, a report on the implementation of the. This harmful practice affects niger more than anywhere in the world, and the rate varies considerably between regions. State and local governments are in charge of the implementation of the national policy as defined and monitored by the federal authority. Child marriage in west and central africa september 2018. The prohibition of child marriage act, 2006 it came into effect on 1 november 2007 to address and fix the shortcomings of the child marriage restraint act boys and girls forced into child marriages as minors have the option of voiding their marriage up to two years after reaching adulthood in certain circumstances, marriages of minors can be. Prohibition of receiving money or reward as inducement to foster a child. Child marriage a practice driven by poverty international. The child rights act, passed in 2003, raised the minimum age. Nigeria is the 11th highest nation in the world for percentage of child marriages data shows a 9% decline in the prevalence of child marriage compared to 2003.
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