By Julia Smith, General Member
Indian officials have arrested 2,169 men based on 4,074 registered police cases involving about 8,000 men this year alone concerning child marriages.
In India, the legal age for marriage is 21 for men and 18 for women. However, despite these age restrictions, child marriages continue to be prevalent in the country. Various factors contribute to this problem, including poverty, lack of education, and deeply ingrained social norms and practices, particularly in rural areas. Unfortunately, child marriage is not exclusive to India, as more than 100 million girls worldwide are expected to be married before their eighteenth birthday in the next decade. Moreover, the ongoing pandemic has exacerbated the situation, putting up to 10 million additional girls at risk of becoming child brides.
Child marriage is fundamentally rooted in gender inequality, and this harmful practice disproportionately affects girls. Globally, the prevalence of child marriage among boys is significantly lower than that among girls, highlighting the deeply ingrained gender disparities. Child marriage deprives girls of their childhood and severely threatens their lives and health. Girls who marry before the age of 18 are more likely to experience domestic violence and are less likely to continue their education. Consequently, they face worse economic and health outcomes than their unmarried peers, perpetuating a cycle of disadvantage that extends to their children. This further strains a country's ability to provide quality health and education services, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and inequality.
One of the grave consequences of child marriage is the early pregnancy and childbirth experienced by young brides. Adolescent pregnancies carry a significantly higher risk of complications for both the mother and the baby. These young girls often lack the physical and emotional maturity required to handle pregnancy and childbirth, leading to increased health risks for themselves and their infants. Additionally, child marriage often isolates girls from their families and communities, depriving them of social support networks and opportunities for participation. This isolation affects their physical and psychological well-being, leading to long-lasting physical and mental health issues.
Recognizing the urgent need to address this issue, India's Parliament is currently considering legislation to raise the age for marriage for women from 18 to 21, aligning it with the age for men. This proposed legislation aims to promote gender equality and empower girls by allowing them to complete their education and attain economic independence. Raising the marriage age would enable young girls to fully develop physically and psychologically before entering such a life-altering commitment. By safeguarding the rights and freedoms of young girls, this legislation would serve as a significant step towards protecting and empowering them globally.
India's efforts to combat child marriage can also serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for other developing nations facing similar challenges. By implementing legislative changes and prioritizing the well-being and rights of young girls, countries worldwide can work together to eradicate child marriage and create a safer, more equal future for all.
Inquiry questions to challenge yourself and deepen your understanding of this issue.
How should the men instigating this be prosecuted, and what sentences/charges reflect the severity of their actions?
What age do you believe should be the marriage age?
What programming is needed to make a change; what can Canada do ?
How are YOU going to make a change?
For more information, feel free to click on the links below:
https://globalnews.ca/news/9460409/indian-police-illegal-child-marriages/
“Indian police crackdown on illegal child marriages, over 2,000 arrested”
https://www.unicef.org/protection/child-marriage
UNICEF’S updated statistics about child marriage rates globally
https://www.worldvision.ca/stories/gender-equality/child-marriage-facts-and-how-to-help
“How can I help to end child marriage”