Nearly 5,000 people have been arrested in a crackdown on illegal child marriages in India’s northeastern region, Assam state officials said Sunday. Indian news agency ANI reported that 416 people were arrested in the third phase of the campaign against child marriage on December 21 and 22 alone. A total of 5,000 people have been arrested so far this year on charges of child marriage.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has issued a statement saying, “We will take bold steps to end this social evil.” “Assam continues its fight against child marriage,” he said. “Raids have been conducted overnight and those arrested will be produced in court on Sunday.” According to the United Nations, there are more than 220 million child brides in India, but the number of child marriages has declined dramatically this century.
The state of Assam has arrested thousands of people, including parents of married couples and registrars who have tied the knot with underage couples, during an eradication campaign that began in February 2023. With this, the number of people arrested has now reached more than four thousand. Sharma has launched a campaign to completely end child marriage in his state by 2026.
The legal age of marriage in India is 18, but millions of children, especially in poor rural areas, are forced into child marriage. Many parents marry their children off in the hope of improving their financial security. Due to child marriage, married girls in Indian society often drop out of school to cook and do other household chores.
They also face health problems when they give birth to children at a young age after marriage. In a historic ruling in 2017, India’s Supreme Court ruled that having sex with a minor is rape.
Nepal
Child marriage remains a significant issue in Nepal, with recent reports highlighting its prevalence and associated challenges.
Prevalence and Statistics:
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Approximately 35% of Nepali girls marry before the age of 18, and 6% marry before 15. In contrast, 7% of Nepali boys marry before 18.
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The United Nations estimates that Nepal is home to five million child brides, with 1.3 million married before age 15.
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The Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2022 indicates that 14% of women aged 15-19 have been pregnant, with teenage pregnancy rates highest in Karnali Province (21%) and Madhesh Province (20%).
Recent Cases and Reports:
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In Mahottari district, child marriage remains prevalent, particularly among the Maithili and Musahar communities. For example, a girl named Kajal was married at 15, became a mother of three by her early twenties, and faced significant hardships after her husband’s death.
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A 2024 report highlights that child marriage contributes to increased maternal and newborn deaths in Nepal, emphasizing the health risks associated with early pregnancies.
Government and Organizational Efforts:
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Nepal’s government launched the National Strategy to End Child Marriage in 2016, aiming to eradicate the practice by 2030. The strategy focuses on empowering girls, providing quality education, engaging men and boys, mobilizing communities to change social norms, and strengthening services.
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Organizations like CARE’s Tipping Point program work with adolescent girls in western Nepal to prevent child, early, and forced marriages through mentoring, community engagement, and advocacy for girls’ rights.
Challenges:
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Despite legal frameworks setting the minimum marriage age at 20 (or 18 with parental consent), enforcement remains weak, and societal norms continue to perpetuate child marriage.
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Poverty, gender inequality, and lack of education are significant drivers of child marriage in Nepal. In some communities, girls are married off early to reduce the economic burden on families or due to traditional beliefs.
Addressing child marriage in Nepal requires sustained efforts from the government, civil society, and communities to change deep-rooted cultural norms, enforce laws, and provide opportunities for girls’ education and empowerment.
Global issue
Child marriage remains a global issue, affecting millions of children worldwide, particularly in regions with poverty, gender inequality, and limited access to education. Here is an overview of the situation globally:
Global Statistics on Child Marriage
- Prevalence:
- Around 12 million girls marry before the age of 18 every year.
- More than 650 million women and girls alive today were married as children.
- Boys and Child Marriage:
- While less common, an estimated 115 million boys and men were married as children.
Regional Insights
- South Asia: The highest number of child brides globally, with countries like India, Bangladesh, and Nepal facing significant challenges.
- Sub-Saharan Africa: The highest proportion of child brides, with about 37% of girls married before 18.
- Middle East and North Africa: Cultural traditions and conflict have increased child marriage rates, particularly among refugees.
- Latin America and the Caribbean: The only region where child marriage rates have stagnated rather than declined.
- Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Lower rates overall but persistent challenges in marginalized communities.
Reasons
- Poverty: Poor families may view marriage as a way to reduce financial burdens or secure economic stability.
- Gender Inequality: Cultural norms and traditions often favor early marriage for girls.
- Lack of Education: Girls with little or no education are up to six times more likely to marry as children.
- Humanitarian Crises: Displacement, conflict, and natural disasters exacerbate child marriage as families resort to marrying off daughters for perceived protection or financial reasons.
Impacts of Child Marriage
- Health Risks:
- Increased risk of early pregnancies, maternal and infant mortality.
- Higher vulnerability to domestic violence.
- Education:
- Many child brides drop out of school, limiting economic opportunities and perpetuating cycles of poverty.
- Economic Consequences:
- Loss of potential earnings due to lack of education and early caregiving responsibilities.
- Human Rights Violations:
- Child marriage often infringes on the fundamental rights of girls to education, health, and safety.
Global Efforts to Combat Child Marriage
- United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
- Goal 5.3 aims to eliminate child marriage by 2030.
- Laws and Policies:
- Many countries have raised the minimum legal age for marriage, but enforcement remains a challenge.
- Girls’ Education and Empowerment:
- Providing education and life skills for girls is a critical strategy.
- Community Engagement:
- Changing cultural norms through advocacy, community leaders, and local initiatives.
- International Organizations:
- Organizations like UNICEF, UNFPA, and Girls Not Brides are working globally to prevent child marriage.
Progress and Challenges
- Progress:
- Global child marriage rates have declined in recent decades, with the prevalence dropping by about 15% over the last 10 years.
- Challenges:
- COVID-19 reversed some progress, with an estimated 10 million more girls at risk of becoming child brides due to increased poverty and school closures.
Child marriage remains a complex issue, but coordinated efforts at the local, national, and global levels are helping to drive progress toward its eradication.
