Why Does Child Marriage Happen Girls Not Brides?

Child marriage is a global issue rooted in gender inequality and the belief that girls and women are inferior to boys and men. It is exacerbated by poverty, lack of education, harmful social norms, and insecurity. Gender inequality treats women and girls as second-class citizens, denied their human rights, and valued less due to their sex. Child marriage is one expression of this inequality, with patriarchal systems that value girls according to their virginity. It is a global issue that cuts across countries, cultures, religions, and ethnicities. One in five girls worldwide is married before the age of 18, and UNICEF estimates that 650 million women are married as girls today. Child marriage is most prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, and girls who marry before 18 are more likely to experience domestic violence, less likely to remain in school, and have worse economic and social outcomes. The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage aims to end child, early, and forced marriages, working collectively to end child marriages worldwide.

Child marriage in South Asia is a result of traditional perceptions, cultural and religious practices, and economic considerations. In areas with high poverty, parents often make financial calculations about their daughters’ futures. Child brides are more likely to experience early pregnancies and have more children than girls who marry later, increasing their risks of pregnancy- and childbirth-related complications. Child marriage is internationally recognized as a form of gender-based violence and is a human rights violation. It puts girls and women at increased risk of sexual, physical, and psychological violence throughout their lives. The causes of child marriage vary based on cultural context and are rooted in gender inequality and the belief that girls and women are inferior to boys and men. It is made worse by poverty, lack of education, harmful social norms, and insecurity. The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage (Girls Not Brides) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales, aiming to end child marriage by promoting collective engagement and national action.

What have girls not brides done?

Girls Not Brides The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage. We are a global network of over 1400 civil society organizations working to end child, early, and forced marriages and unions so that girls can fulfill their potential.

Support our members. Girls Not Brides members are a diverse group of civil society organizations working to end child marriage around the world. Their experience, understanding, and connections with girls and communities are the driving force of our movement. You can donate to support our cause.

Support a campaign. The more people call for an end to child marriage, the more likely it is that decision-makers will act. Join us in calling for a better future for girls around the world.

Can a girl marry a girl in America?

USCIS recognizes same-sex marriages, but they must be documented by a marriage certificate from a country where they are legal. USCIS says the law of the place where the marriage was celebrated determines whether the marriage is valid for immigration purposes. LGBTQ couples can get more help with immigration in our guide. Finally, USCIS takes marriage fraud very seriously. To get a green card through marriage, you must prove your marriage is real. Proving your relationship is real is important for your application and interview. If the officer thinks your marriage is not real, you may be asked for more evidence or questioned during your interview.

Can a girl ask a guy to marry her?

Most men would like their female partner to propose marriage, according to a 2015 survey by Glamour. A man who explains things to women might say that 70 percent is a big number, especially when it comes to social customs. Couples are shopping for engagement rings together and even splitting the cost. If you want to propose, go for it! Tina B. Tessina, PhD, a psychotherapist in Long Beach, California, says a woman can propose to a man. But how? We asked experts for advice. If it’s right, you’ll know. As law professors tell aspiring attorneys: Don’t ask a question you don’t know the answer to. In movies, marriage proposals are often sudden. But in real life, most people propose when they know their partner will say yes, says Kevin Darné, a dating/relationship expert and author of My Cat Wont Bark (A Relationship Epiphany). Most couples have already talked about getting married before a proposal. It’s not if, but when. Don’t be nervous or sweating bullets. Just pray the person you love wants to marry you.

What religion has the most child brides?

Hinduism has more child brides than any other religion. The rest of the religions have fewer child brides than the overall average, except for Muslims and Buddhists in urban areas.

What is girls not brides theory of change on child marriage?

There is no single solution to end child marriage, but there are steps that can lead to a better future. Our theory of change shows how to address child marriage and the role everyone plays in advancing girls’ rights. To end child marriage and support girls who are or have been married, we need to keep working for a long time.

Change will happen in communities, but national, regional, and international action will make it happen faster.

We need to make sure that civil society has the resources it needs to take action and that gender-transformative and feminist strategies are put into practice. All those working to end child marriage should evaluate their programs, share good ideas, and work together to make a bigger impact.

Can a girl marry a girl?

Do adults get to marry each other? Yes, some places allow same-sex marriage. Some places don’t allow it because there’s no law.

Which country has the most child brides?

Niger has the highest child marriage rate in the world among girls. According to the most recent data, in this West African country, more than three fourths of girls aged under 18 were married, with nearly 30 percent of them being younger than 15 years old. The Central African Republic, Chad, and Mali followed behind with rates ranging from 61 to 54 percent. This issue is globally spread, particularly in African countries. In many of these countries, the legal age to get married is lower for females than for males. In Niger and Chad, for instance, the legal age is 15 years for females and 18 for males. In Guinea, instead, the legal age for marriage is 17 for females and 18 for males. Child marriage is often related to poverty, with poor families choosing to marry away their girls both in order to earn money as a wedding gift and as this means fewer mouths to feed.

What country has the youngest age to marry?

In some countries, boys can be married at 10, 13, 15, or 16 or 17. Girls are less protected than boys under marriage age laws.

• Journal List
• Taylor & Francis Open Select
• PMC6382347

Marriage of children below 18 is a global practice that hinders the development and well-being of hundreds of millions of girls. We analyze national legislation regarding minimum marriage age, exceptions, and gender disparities. While some countries have banned child marriage, many still allow it. And even when it is banned, women are still treated differently.

KEYWORDS: Child marriage, early marriage, minimum marriage age, gender discrimination, gender inequality, comparative law, marriage law, family law, child rights, cross-national analysis, international treaties, conventions.

Who runs Girls Not Brides?

Our history. Girls Not Brides began in September 2011 when The Elders, a group of global leaders, started working together for peace and human rights. They wanted to focus on harmful practices that hold girls and women back and to encourage others to build a world free from child marriage. Girls Not Brides became an independent charity in 2013. Mabel Van Oranje, Graca Machel, and Sonita Alizadeh are Girls Not Brides champions and advocates against child marriage. Charity details. Girls Not Brides Girls Not Brides is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (Reg No.: 8570751) and a registered charity in England and Wales (Reg No: 1154230).