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Child Marriage in India
Child marriage is a common practice in many countries around the world, however it is especially prevalent in India, where more than a third of all child brides live. [1] According to UNICEF, 47% of girls are married by 18 years of age, and 18% are married by 15 years of age. [2] These marriages are often performed without the consent of those involved in the marriage. Indian law has made child marriage illegal, but it is still widely practiced across the nation. The highest rates are seen particularly in the rural states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. [3] It affects both boys and girls, but statistics show that girls are far more likely to be in a child marriage than boys; however the percentage of girls forced into child marriage in India has declined in recent years. Many consider child marriage to be a human rights violation, often resulting in death, health issues, poverty, violence, and lack of education.
Definition of Child Marriage
UNICEF defines child marriage as a formal marriage or union before 18 years of age. [4] UN Women defines child marriage as a forced marriage before 18 years of age, since they believe children under age 18 are incapable of giving their consent. [5]
History of Child Marriage
Child marriage, also known as Bal Vivaha, is believed to have begun during the medieval ages of India. At this time, the political atmosphere was turbulent and ruled by Delhi Sultans in an absolute monarchy government. [6] The sultans had an extreme commitment to their religion and forced many to convert, causing socio-cultural unrest, thus creating child marriage. They invented the ill omen of giving birth to a female baby and believed that young unmarried girls caused disaster. Child marriage became a widespread cultural practice with various reasons to justify it. Military alliances were important in this age
References
- ^ http://www.theelders.org/docs/child-marriage-factsheet.pdf
- ^ http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/india_statistics.html
- ^ http://www.indg.in/social-sector/social-awareness/stop-child-marriages/stop-child-marriages
- ^ http://www.unicef.org/protection/57929_58008.html
- ^ http://www.endvawnow.org/en/articles/614-definition-of-forced-and-child-marriage.html
- ^ http://www.hindunet.org/hindu_history/sudheer_history/practices1.html
http://www.theelders.org/docs/child-marriage-factsheet.pdf http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/india_statistics.html http://www.indg.in/social-sector/social-awareness/stop-child-marriages/stop-child-marriages