Child Marriage in Africa

More than 40 percent of African girls face the prospect of child marriage. Meaning, that these girls will be married before reaching the age of 18. The Human Rights Watch has been calling attention to this phenomenon and the dire consequences that result for these women. Without progress to prevent child marriage, the number of married girls in Africa will rise from 125 million to 310 million by 2050.

Child marriage occurs in African countries due to a variety of reasons. Namely, poverty, tradition, safety and gender inequality. Poverty is widespread in Africa and marriage is a way for a family to reduce their expenses. Many places in Africa have practiced child marriage for generations and it is a tradition that is engrained in the people where straying from it could lead to exclusion. Girls in Africa are also much more at risk of physical and sexual assault, and marriage can be seen as a way to ensure safety. Lastly, in many of the countries, girls are seen as a burden or commodity where they are valued less than boys. All of these factors contribute to the practice of child marriage.

The reasons child marriage needs to cease, outlined by Girls Not Brides, is the following:

• Life-threatening health consequences for girls: Many girls will become pregnant soon after they are married when their bodies are not capable to safely deliver children. Additionally, they are more at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
• Denial of the right to education: Once married, most girls will drop out of school entirely. Over 60 percent of child brides have no formal education.
• Risk of sexual, physical and psychological violence: Child brides are more likely to be subjected to violence.
• Negative impact on the economy: Millions of girls will not be educated and will not be able to financially contribute to their household to lift the family out of poverty. It is a never-ending cycle.

There have been efforts by organizations to help put a stop to this harmful practice. Educating the local communities is one of the most powerful tools advocates can implement. According to Girls Not Brides, advocate groups have successfully gotten many African countries to recognize that child marriage is a violation of human rights and that the minimum age of consent is 18. A few African countries have even developed strategies to end child marriage. This includes education in addition to legislation. Egypt has developed a five-year implementation plan that relies on a partnership between government and private actors. Zambia has also launched a similar program to ensure that girls’ rights are protected and child marriage is no longer practiced.

Slowly the child marriage rates are decreasing, but more work needs to be done so this practice is all-together banished. All African governments should implement comprehensive plans that aims to curb child marriage. Women and girls need to be empowered and better educated. Families and communities need to be made aware of the issues and the harmful effects of child marriage on the women and the community as a whole.

 

Tom Osborne is a 3L and a senior editor of the Journal of Law and International Affairs at the Penn State University Dickinson School of Law.

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