Child marriage is a fundamental viola tion of human rights. Child marriage is a cultural issue, but it is also a social justice issue and a national health issue in nigeria. Child marriage, or early marriage, is any marriage where at least one of the parties is under 18 years of age. The share of women ages 1822 who married as children is 42.
The practice of child marriage in nigeria huffpost. The right to free and full consent to a marriage is recognized in the universal declaration of human. An early marriage, is an issue where argued by many now a days. The national strategic plan to end child marriage in nigeria. If a party to such a void marriage is charged with any of the sexual. Enact marriage laws that include provisions that establish free and full consent of both spouses, requirements for proof of age before marriage licenses are. Pdf early marriage and its implications on the nigerian economy. Introduction marriage before the age of 18 is a reality for many young women. In niger, for example, 77% of women in their early 20s were married as children. In nigeria, a significant number of early marriage is prevalent in most cultures in the country with most girls married off by age 15, and several others married off by the time they attain the age of 18. Child marriage, defined as marriage of a child free and full consent to marriage. Seventeen days into the marriage, wasila was accused of murdering umar and three of his friends by food poisoning, at her own wedding party. Legal issues, complications, implications, prospects and solutions article pdf available january 2014 with,366 reads how we measure reads. Limited education and economic options little or no schooling strongly correlates with being married at a young age.
Preface and acknowledgement throughout the world, marriage is regarded as a moment of celebration and a milestone in. End early and forced marriage for girls in nigeria globalgiving. Forced early marriages are known to cause reproductive health risk to the girl child. Child marriage statistics show child brides have a diminished chance of completing their education and are at a higher risk of being physically abused, contracting hiv and other diseases, and dying while pregnant or giving. In many countries, 18 years is the legal age of marriage and nigeria has made a constitutional effort to. Nigeria, particularly northern nigeria, has some of the highest rates of early marriage in the world. In the united states, child marriage is still permissible in some states, with parental or judicial consent.
In minna, nigeria, where conservative sharia islamic law is in effect, the international centre for reproductive health and sexual rights increse is helping to prevent child marriage by educating girls and empowering. Early marriage, cohabitation, and childbearing in west africa. Among girls growing up in south asia, 30% experience early marriage, compared with 25% in latin america and the caribbean. In many parts of the world parents encourage the marriage of their daughters while they are still children in hopes that the marriage will benefit them both financially and socially, while also. Getting married before reaching at this minimum legal age is not only illegal but also against. First of all, if you ask a question if it is legal to force children into marriage, it is actually not legal according to the childs rights act of 2003, where it is pointed out that the age of consent for a child is 18 years old. Children should have childhoods and not be forced into marriages. The right to free and full consent to a marriage is recognized in the 1948 universal declaration of human rights udhr and in many subsequent human rights instruments consent that cannot be free and full when at least one partner is very immature. Ending child marriage in africa human rights watch. End early and forced marriage for girls in nigeria. Nigeria has committed to eliminate child, early and forced marriage by 2030 in line with target 5. In minna, nigeria, where conservative sharia islamic law is in effect, the international centre for reproductive health and sexual rights increse is helping to prevent child marriage by educating girls and.
Box 4384400100, nairobi, kenya abstract it is the opinion consensuses of a few scholars that the institution of marriage has continued to. Introduction child marriage refers to any marriage of a child younger than eighteen years old, in accordance to article 1 of the convention of the right of the child. Abstract child marriage is often deployed as a response to crisis, considered by families and communities to be the best possible means of protecting children. Child marriage can be considered a form of forced marriage because children are unable. Conversely, attending school and having higher levels of education protect girls from the possibility of early marriage. Until the late 20th century, teen marriage was very common and instrumental in securing a family, continuing a blood lineage and producing offspring for labour. Bunting, annie and merry, sally engle, global regulation and local political struggles. The prevalence of child marriage in west africa is one of the highest in the global south. Nigeria is the third country worldwide for absolute number of child brides united nations population fund unfpa. Niger is a focus country of the unicefunfpa global. Trends in marriage and divorce figure 1 lays out some facts about marriage and divorce in the united states over the last 150 years. The age of marriage under customary law is governed in the three eastern states of nigeria by the age of marriage law 1956. Islam reached nigeria through the borno empire between 1068 ad and hausa states around 85 ad during the 11th century. Niger ratified the convention on the rights of the child in 1990, which sets a minimum age of marriage of 18, and acceded to the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women cedaw in 1999, which obligates states to ensure free and full consent to marriage.
Early marriage and forced marriage is most common in subsaharan africa where 38% of girls become child brides. This was achieved through the marriage ordinance 1914, which applied throughout nigeria. Nigeria is the 11th highest nation in the world for percentage of child marriages data shows a 9% decline in the prevalence of child marriage compared to 2003. The causes, consequences and solutions to forced child marriage. Nigeria, particularly northern nigeria, has some of the highest rates of early marriage in the world westoff 2001. Whether it happens to a girl or a boy, early marriage is a violation of human rights. The main thrust of this paper is that early marriage is a violation of fundamental human rights and that both state and non state actors must be held accountable under international treaty obligations to combat early child marriage. Child marriage is a marriage or similar union, formal or informal, between an adult and a child or another child under age eighteen. Ethiopia and some west african countries, some girls get married as early as 7 years. The history of nigeria can be traced to prehistoric settlers nigerians living in the area as early as 1100 bc. Adopting life course family development perspectives on adolescent sexuality, we examine the linkages between the timing of union formation and childbearing across multiple. Identify the effect of early marriage on the academic performance on girl child.
Nigeria is africas richest country and the one with the most outofschool girls. Early child marriage in nigeria is a violation of the fundamental human rights of women as many girls are forced into marriage against their freewill and consent. In nigeria, a significant number of early marriage is prevalent in most cultures in the country with most girls married off by age 15, and several others married off by the time they attain the. Early marriage refers to any marriage before the legal age of marriage which may differ from country to country the legal age of marriage differs by sex, for example, in some countries in africa it is 18 for males and only 15 for females. Abstract this brief has provided a basic profile of child marriage in nigeria. It repealed the marriage ordinance 1908, the marriage proclamation 1907, and the foreign marriage ordinance 19.
Early marriage is vague and does not necessarily refer to children. Yet, much of what we know about the harmful effects of early marriage and why it persists comes from research on south asia. Should be able to tell if early marriage is higher in the rural areas or in the urban area. Early marriage refers to any marriage before the legal age of marriage which may differ from country to country. Child marriage also occurs in parts of the middle east, including yemen and the rural maghreb.
All hands therefore need to be on deck to solve this problem since children are too immature both physically and mentally to fight on their own. In most of the countries the minimum legal age for the child marriage is 18 years. However, federal law may be implemented differently at the state level, and to date, only a few of. What is unique about this paper is that it looks at the legal system as a whole and proposes a set of. Help put an end to early and forced marriage and the damage it causes to a girls health and her wellbeing. Marriage act an act to make provisions for the celebration of marriages. In nigeria, particularly northern nigeria has some of the highest rates of early marriage in the world. Akpan, the only parents i can pray and wish for and to my kid brother anthony jnr. In bangladesh, 45% of young women between 25 and 29 were married between the age of 10 and 14 unicef, 2001. Data shows a 9% decline in the prevalence of child marriage compared to 2003. Nigeria is the 11th highest nation in the world for percentage of child marriages. Child marriage, defined as marriage of a child marriage include early marriage and child brides. Globally, 1 in 4 young women alive today were married in childhood versus 1 in 3 in the early 1980s.
Pdf parents perception on factors of early marriage among the. A reflection on the african traditional values of marriage. Nigeria has one of the highest child marriage prevalence rates in the world. These child marriage stories show how and why plan international is working to prevent early marriage and reveal the effect our work is having on girls lives.
We need to work as a society to figure out ways to give the most. The igbo tribe has a peculiar expensive marriage procedure where a list of items must be presented before the marriage can take. Early marriage is used to refer both formal marriage and informal unions in which a girl lives with a partner as if married before age of 18, early marriage also known as child marriage is defined as any marriage carried out below the age of18 years before the girl is physically, physiologically. Videos you watch may be added to the tvs watch history and influence tv recommendations. Jun 12, 2014 we as a society must start to realize that the practice of child marriage must cease to persist, for the sake of the future of these girls that are married to early. If playback doesnt begin shortly, try restarting your device. Identify government aid towards the stopping of early marriage in nigeria. Forced marriages are marriages in which one andor both parties have not personally expressed their full and free consent to the union. The legal age of marriage differs by sex, for example, in some countries in africa it is 18 for males and only 15 for females. Numerous ancient african civilizations settled in the region that is today nigeria, such as the kingdom of nri, the benin empire, and the oyo empire.
This is one of nigerian marriage customs that has over the years raised up a lot of debate and has affected a lot of potential suitors from marrying the person they desire. Many bangladeshi girls are married soon after puberty, partly to free their. The causes, consequences and solutions to forced child. This practice is extremely prevalent in some communities in the northwest region of nigeria. Child marriage, defined as marriage of a child under 18 years of age, is a silent and yet widespread practice. Until the late 20th century, teen marriage was very common and instrumental in securing a family, continuing a. Nigeria and the ills of child marriage vanguard news. Early marriage forces girls into adulthood before they are emotionally and physically matured, leading to a range of harmful effects on their health, education. Child marriage refers to any marriage of a child younger than eighteen years old, in accordance to article 1 of the. Rates are 17% in the middle east and north africa, and 11% in eastern europe and central asia. However some countries allow marriages at 16 years as well, especially for the girl children. Child marriage is one of the biggest human rights violations in the world. Adult nigerian womens accounts of early marriages show all authors. The impact of early marriage taking action the need for research in conclusion links references innocenti digest no.
Nigeria, 51 per cent of women aged 2024 who never used. A minor in a child marriage can be a girl or a boy, but the large majority of child marriages are between a girl and a man, and are rooted in gender inequality. While early marriage takes many different forms and has various causes, one issue is paramount. Short title this act may be cited as the marriage act. Forced and early marriage is a form of culturallyjustified violence against women as well as a violation of human rights that is endemic in many countries. Many girls and a smaller number of boys are married without their free and full consent. Child marriage, domestic violence and choice of partner. In april, 2010, there was intense protest by the gender rights activists over the alleged marriage of ahmed sanni yerima to a. The merger of northern and southern nigeria in 1914 made it imperative to streamline the marriage laws in the new political entity, nigeria. Sadly, as this digest makes clear, the practice of early marriage gives no. Child marriage essay introduction causes impact imp days.
Pdf early marriage forces girls into adulthood before they are emotionally and physically matured, and. Today, over 60 million marriages include girls under the age of 18 years. A 2017 world bank study estimates that child marriage costs nigeria usd7. Some people are advocated for early marriage because it is healthy. A child marriage is considered to be a form of forced marriage, given that one andor both parties. Wasila, 14, was given out in marriage to umar sani, 35, in gezawa, outside the northern city of kano in april, 2014. In 2017 in nigeria, 43% of girls are married off before the age of 18. Islamic responses to the raging debate of child marriage. While the age of marriage is generally on the rise, early marriage marriage of children and adolescents below the age of 18 is still widely practiced. Early marriage in nigeria is against international conventions mentioned earlier in this work, which placed the legal age of consent to marriage at 18 years. Early marriage in nigeria causes consequences and solution.
Progress is most dramatic when it comes to the marriage of girls under 15 years of age. To know the general attitude of the public towards early marriage. Faso, cameroon, cote divoire, guinea, and togo, lloyd and mensch 2008 find that for girls aged 15 to 24, child marriage and pregnancies directly account for between 5% and 33% of dropouts, depending on the country. Rotimi olawale advocates for the passage of the child rights act, which guarantees free, quality education for all children and prevents marriage under age 18. Pdf on jan 1, 2014, babatunde afolabi and others published early. Early and forced marriage, child, child rights, nigeria. Ohchr child, early and forced marriage, including in. A reflection on the african traditional values of marriage and sexuality dr. The child rights act, passed in 2003, raised the minimum age of marriage to 18 for girls. Early and forced marriages in nigeria exists and needs to be curbed on time. Using interpretive phenomenological analysis, we explore womens constrained articulations of their experiences of early marriage, as they are constituted within a social context where the identity of woman is bound up in values and practices around marriage and motherhood. Early marriage is used to refer both formal marriage and informal unions in which a girl lives with a partner as if married before age of 18,early marriage also known as child marriage is defined as any marriage carried out below the age of18 years before the girl is physically, physiologically.
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