What is Child Marriage?
If a girl or boy is formally married before the age of 18 is known as Child Marriage. This affect the girls disproportionately especially in South Asia.
Causes of Child Marriage
There are many causes of child marriage from which some of them are listed below:
1. Gender Discrimination
Child Marriage is a discrimination against women and girls. Discrimination can be in many forms like deprivation of food, domestic violence and many more.
2. Inadequate Laws
There are many laws against child marriage but are not enforced. A new code enabling Hazara or Shiite was written into the country’s code of Afghanistan.
3. Poverty
To make some money or to settle debts poor families sell their children into marriage. The girls who marry young don’t take part in the workforce as they are not properly educated.
4. “Protecting” The Girl’s Sexuality
The girl’s family’s honor is protected if the girl marries as a virgin. Therefore, marrying a young girl is a culture in many countries.
5. Trafficking
The girls are sell not just into marriage but some poor families make their prostitution to earn large sum of money.
