Resources on Child/Forced Marriage

 

Sometimes called "early marriage," Child/Forced marriage is the marriage of girls under the age of 18, which is usually forced. Article 16 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that marriage “shall be entered only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.” Minors cannot give their consent, however, since they do not meet the legal standards for informed decision-making. Child marriage both violates human rights and hinders development. Young girls who marry as children must usually leave school and are therefore unable to reach their full economic, social, and intellectual potential. There are also many physical and emotional health risks linked to early sexual activity and child-bearing.

 

 

Documents

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol12no11/06-0510.htm

 

USAID
http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_health/pop/news/issue_briefs/prev_child_marriage.pdf

 

UNFPA
http://www.unfpa.org/upload/lib_pub_file/662_filename_endchildmarriage.pdf

 

 

 Web Resources

 
International Women's Health Coalition
http://www.iwhc.org/resources/childmarriagefacts.cfm

 

International Center for Research on Women
http://icrw.org/photoessay/html/facts.htm

 

UNICEF
http://www.childinfo.org/areas/childmarriage/index.php

 

Population Council
http://www.popcouncil.org/ta/mar.html

 

Child Rights Information Network
http://www.crin.org/email/crinmail_detail.asp?crinmailID=2280

 

 

Please visit our Ending Child/Forced Marriage program page to learn how the communities Tostan works with are ending this tradition.