The recently released Global Girlhood Report 2021: Girls Right in Crisis by the non-profit organization Save the Children has put a spotlight on the persisting issue of child marriage globally. The report’s release was timed around the annual International Day of the Girl Child, observed on 11th October.
International Day of the Girl Child
Recognised annually on 11th October, the International Day of the Girl Child was officially declared by the United Nations (UN). The inaugural observation took place in 2012 after a resolution was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 19th December 2011. The day is dedicated to raising awareness about gender equality and championing the rights and opportunities for girls worldwide. The theme for 2021 is “Digital generation. Our generation”.
Child Marriage Statistics – A Global Snapshot
According to the Global Girlhood Report 2021, West and Central Africa report the highest rates of child marriage in the world. Child marriage results in over 60 girls’ deaths globally per day due to the complications arising from pregnancy and childbirth. Specifically, 26 deaths occur daily in West and Central Africa and six in South Asia. South Asia is then followed by East Asia, the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean in this concerning trend.
COVID-19 and Escalation in Child Marriages
The COVID-19 pandemic, with school closures, strained health services and increased poverty rates, poses an added risk of violence for women and girls, since many are now expected to marry young due to lengthy lockdowns. A further 10 million girls are now expected to be married by 2030, leaving more girls at risk of dying. Reports from India echo these global trends, with activists raising concerns about increases in child marriages in rural regions during the lockdown.
Proposed Measures
The Global Girlhood Report has proposed several strategies to combat the issue of child marriage. These include supporting girls’ right to participate in public decision-making, halting gender-based violence, assuring the rights of all girls, improving safe and ethical data collection, and ensuring the participation of female staff in humanitarian efforts. The report also encourages joining the Generation Equality Movement, aiming to prevent 9 million child marriages in five years.
India’s Initiatives To Combat Child Marriage
In India, the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929, the Special Marriage Act, 1954, and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 provide frameworks to curb child marriage. The Union Ministry for Women and Child Development has a committee dedicated to lowering the Maternal Mortality Ratio and improving nutritional levels among women. Additionally, prevention of Child Marriage is a part of SDG 5 which deals with gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls.
Child Marriage in India – A Close-Up View
As per UNICEF estimates, each year, at least 1.5 million girls under 18 get married in India, making it home to the largest number of child brides globally – accounting for a third of the global total. Nearly 16% of adolescent girls aged 15-19 are currently married. However, the prevalence of girls getting married before age 18 has declined from 47% to 27% between 2005-2006 and 2015-2016.
