Child Marriage: Violation Of Rights Of Young People

In today's world there are many young girls, between the ages of nine to sixteen, that are forced by their families to marry older men. The reasons girls marry so young are diverse, but the main reasons some families believe that marriage for young girls is needed is because it gives protection and economic opportunities. Other reasons that girls marry under age is because of cultural and religious traditions. Unfortunately, there are many problems that arise with a child getting married. There are thousands of girls under 18 who forced to get married, and this exposes girls to increased health problems, violence, and gender inequality.

Young brides have struggled with health problems after getting married at a young age. According to Carolina Castilla, “India has the largest number of child marriage compared to the world, the last UNICEF report on the world prevalence of India has the largest number of child marriage, that causes many effects on the young bride’s health, autonomy economic opportunities, and her children’s health” (Castilla, 2018). Many young brides, after marriage, have been known to get sexually transmitted diseases like HIV/AIDS and cervical cancer (from HPV). Girls that are not fully developed are more at risk of health issues while they are pregnant. They are at a significantly higher risk than older women for a debilitating illness and even death from childbirth.

Many young brides live with violence due to her marriage and that destroy her life. As stated by Peter Beaumont, “In Afghanistan, 43% of women in the 25-49 age group were married before the age of 18, an Afghan man has been accused of strangling to death a nine-year-old girl who was forcibly given to him by her family as a child bride to pay off the debt” (Beaumont 2018). Child marriage also results in violence against the young brides. Many husbands like control over the young bride, and the husbands also feel more power than the young bride. The husband may use violence against the child when she refused to have sexual intercouse. This type of sexual and physical abuse leads to psychological and physical scars that can last a lifetime. Violence against young brides forces them to live in a life of solitude. The psychological toll on them is hard to erase if one has to live almost as a prisoner their whole life. Child marriage has more of an effect on a young girl who wants to live a life where they want to pursue their dreams. Even if the child will complain to their parents, the parents do not take it as serious, and the young bride have no other choice than to be silent.

Furthermore, the marriage is not equal, as the older man has control over the girl because of his age and stature in society. There are not many laws that protect these girls from their husbands. According to Girls Not Brides, “32% of girls in Yemen are married before their 18th birthday and 9% are married before the age of 15 the child marriage is driven by armed conflict, level of education, family honor, and gender norms” (Girls Not Brides, 2018). Child marriage also denies young girls gender equality. In some cultural traditions, there are many parents that believe in cultural norms that value girls less than boys. Many places, child marriage is also the cultural heritage of the norms. Many cultures do not see women as possible wage earners, yet this is stifled by the culture they live in. They also do not see women as educated and socially active, they believe women should marry, take care of kids, and take care of the house.

There are many people who believed in child marriage and think its good for the child to be married in early age. According to The Economist, “ Most parents may think they have their child’s best interest in mind by allowing an early marriage, especially if their daughter is pregnant, More than 207,000 American minors were married between 2000 and 2015, over two-thirds were 17 years old, but 985 were 14, and ten were just 12. Twenty-seven states have no minimum age for marriage in America” (The Economist, 2018). There are more than one in three girls there is believed to marry before the age of 18, which is how child marriage is generally defined. Many parents think to pay off their debt by forcing their child to become a bride at an early age. It is sad that they do not ask for the girl’s permission before they sell her to become a bride. Plus, it is not fair that men have a choice to marry after going to college and getting a career, but yet young women are forced to live a life chosen for them at such a young age. Many young girls in Yemen have no opportunities for education or a good paying job, so it only makes sense for their parents to make sure their daughters marry early and obey their husband. Their daughters have no other options. Some people argue that child marriage is part of the cultural norms or necessary, but young girls are put under too much stress to be in that situation to begin with.

In conclusion, there are thousands of young girls they lost their dreams and do not have any hope in their young age of life and they never have childhood memories, There are thousands of girls under 18 who forced to get married, and this exposes girls to increased health problems, violence, and gender inequality. Girls being forced to be with old men, and lost their child's life and education, like any other kids in the world, but grateful there are many people who stood by for that child who is forced to marry without their permission, many agencies and organizations hopefully the young girl will speak up at that time the world will help her and stand next to her.