Child Marriage

The Issue: Child Marriage

Child marriage, defined as marriage before age 18, devastates the lives of girls, their families and their communities. Widespread in many developing countries, child brides number more than 60 million worldwide. In some countries, half of the girls are married before they turn 18.

This harmful traditional practice is most common in poor, rural communities, and its consequences only perpetuate the cycle of poverty. More often than not, child brides are pulled out of school, depriving them of an education and meaningful work. They suffer health risks associated with early sexual activity and childbearing, leading to high rates of maternal and child mortality as well as sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. And they are more likely to be victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse and social isolation.

Though child marriage is entrenched in tradition and culture, change is possible. Very often, girls and their parents want to delay marriage but lack options. Governments and communities are actively working to discourage the practice by raising awareness of the adverse consequences for girls, running programs that provide girls with viable alternatives to marriage, and demanding more effective enforcement of existing laws that condemn child marriage. With the right mix of effective programs, policies and political will, millions of girls will have the opportunity to fulfill their potential.

Our Role

ICRW’s focus on child marriage emerged from our work to improve the lives of adolescents. Through projects in India and Nepal, we found that child marriage was a significant and recurring problem, particularly for girls. Our research efforts set out to understand the scope, causes and consequences in order to find solutions. Collaborating with local partners, we've designed effective programs that work with girls and boys, their families and communities to delay marriage. And we've used our research evidence to educate national and international policymakers on the need for leadership and action.