What is child marriage Unicef?
Child marriage refers to any formal marriage or informal union between a child under the age of 18 and an adult or another child.
What is Unicef doing to stop child marriage?
The UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage promotes the rights of adolescent girls to avert marriage and pregnancy, and enables them to achieve their aspirations through education and alternative pathways. Adolescent girls and boys in Uganda learn skills to help them exercise their rights.
Which country has the highest rate of child marriage in Africa?
Niger
Niger has the highest prevalence of child marriage in the world at 76 percent, followed by Central African Republic with 68 percent and Chad at 67 percent.
Why is child marriage an urgent issue in Africa?
Child marriage is a human rights violation taking place on a vast scale in West and Central Africa which disproportionately affect girls. Rapid growth of the child population in African countries makes it increasingly urgent that countries accelerate their efforts to address child marriage.
Who started child marriage?
In Ancient Rome, females could marry above the age of 12 and males could marry above the age of 14. In the Middle Ages, under English civil laws that were derived from Roman laws, marriages before the age of 16 existed. In Imperial China, child marriage was the norm.
Where do child marriages occur?
Child marriage occurs in every region of the world, and is practiced across cultures, religions, and ethnicities. The highest rates of child marriage by country are observed in Sub-Saharan Africa, in countries such as Niger, the Central African Republic, and Chad.
Who reformed child marriage?
It came into effect six months later on 1 April 1930 and applied to all of British India. It was a result of social reform movement in India. Despite strong opposition from the British authorities, the legislation was passed by the British Indian Government which had a majority of Indians.
What has the UN done for child marriage?
The United Nations announced a new initiative today to advance efforts to end child marriage by 2030 and protect the rights of millions of the most vulnerable girls around the world. Child marriage denies millions of girls this choice each year,” UNFPA’s Executive Director, Dr.
Where is child marriage the worst?
Child marriage among girls is most common in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, and the 10 countries with the highest rates are found in these two regions. Niger has the highest overall prevalence of child marriage in the world. However, Bangladesh has the highest rate of marriage involving girls under age 15.
What age do girls marry in Africa?
Children marry as young as 7 and 8 years old. The U.N. estimates that every day around 37,000 girls under the age of 18 are married.
Why is child marriage common in Africa?
This is due to social stereotypes that categorize girls as domestic wives who stay in the home to cook, clean and bear children. Another reason is that most child marriages take place in poverty-stricken areas and they cannot afford to pay for an education or do not have access to education near them.
What country can you marry at 12?
In Tanzania, Muslim and Hindu girls can marry at 12 as long as the marriage is not consummated until the girl reaches the age of 15.
What is the prevalence of child marriage in Africa?
Average prevalence across the region remains high: about 41 per cent of girls marry before reaching the age of 18. Rapid growth of the child population in African countries makes it increasingly urgent that countries accelerate their efforts to address child marriage.
Is there momentum to end child marriage in Africa?
In West and Central Africa, there is growing momentum for ending child marriage, including the African Union member states’ endorsement of an ‘African Common Position to End Child Marriage’ and the ‘Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa’.
Where are child marriage rates highest in the world?
Due to the social, health and economic impacts of child marriage, the practice is a major obstacle to sustainable development. Six of the world’s 10 countries with the highest rates of child marriage are in West and Central Africa. Average prevalence across the region remains high: about 41 per cent of girls marry before reaching the age of 18.