In order to understand the situation that wasila umaru found herself in, it is important to explore the practice of child marriage in nigeria, a bit more deeply. In the least developed countries, that number doubles 40 per cent of girls are married before age 18, and 12 per cent of girls are married before age 15. In most of the countries the minimum legal age for the child marriage is 18 years. The right to free and full consent to a marriage is recognized in the. The digest provides guidelines towards ending the practice of child marriage through changing attitudes within families and societies, expanding opportunities for education, offering appropriate support to. Zehadul karim international islamic university of malaysia malaysia abstract though a lot of research have been concerned with school dropout issue for both girls and boys. Jan 08, 2019 early child marriage in nigeria relegates the girl child to a vulnerable position and results in violations of the fundamental human rights of the girl child. Early marriage makes completing education almost impossible for girls the relationship between child marriage and educational attainment for girls is also strong. Child marriage is one of the biggest human rights violations in the world. Early marriage denies girls their right to make vital decisions about their sexual health and wellbeing. According to the international center for research on women, the education that a girl receives is the strongest predictor of the age she will marry and is a critical factor in reducing the prevalence of child marriage. Abstract this conceptual paper titled the cultural traditions and practices of the parents as barriers to girl child education in zamfara state nigeria, aimed at enumerating cultural activities of the parents in the study area that prevent them from sending their girl children to school. The reasons girls are married are diverse, and parents sometimes believe that through marriage, they are.
If we dont act now, more than 150 million girls will become child brides by 2030. The effect of early marriage on the academic performance of the girl child in edo state abstract the purpose of this study is to identify interpret and understand the effect of early marriage on the academic performance of the girl child with a view to recommending appropriate measure to be taken in order to enhance their welfare in terms of education and. Previous global estimates implicitly assumed that child marriage in china was as common as in the rest of the region, although it is likely this was an overestimate. The causes, consequences and solutions to forced child. Problems and challenges of girlchild education in nigeria. Jun 12, 2014 i am not of the belief that two wrongs make a right. In this article, we are going to discuss the girl child education in nigeria enlisting in the process why it is so important. Child bride forced into marriage makes poisoned meal which kills groom and three of his friends in nigeria, daily mail, united kingdom newspaper.
Lifethreatening poverty compel parents to marry their girl children to rich and affluent men to secure a living for both parents and children. Girlchild marriage in the nigerian society, causes. The research and preparation of this report were supported by generous funding from. In this article, we investigate the causes and implications of child marriage in nigeria as well as the solutions to eliminate the detrimental cultural practice of child marriage of young girls in nigeria. Whether it happens to a girl or a boy, early marriage is a violation of human rights. Building resilience and resistance to child, early, and forced. Unfortunately, families often do not know the detrimental effects of early child marriages. Issues, problems and challenges, a paper presented at a one day seminar organised by national open university of nigeria. Insights into early marriage and girls education in. The worst form of child sexual, physical and emotional abuse by. More than a third of girls in nigeria end up in child marriages, and with 22 million married before the age of 18, the nation has among the highest number of child brides in africa, according to a. Child marriage is a manifestation of gender inequality, reflecting social norms that perpetuate discrimination against girls. Cultural traditions and practices of the parents as barriers. 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 is the formal or informal marriage of a child under the age of 18 most often the marriage of a young girl to an older boy or man. Despite nearly universal condemnation and global campaigns against this act, this harmful tradition thrives. Child, early, and forced marriage and psychological trauma of girls in northeast. Child marriage unfpa united nations population fund. Girl child marriage as a risk factor for early childhood. 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. The case of wasila tasiu umar, the 14yearold nigerian child bride standing murder trial for killing her husband again raises the issue of the legality of child marriage in nigeria. Legality of child marriage in nigeria and inhibitions against realisation of education rights kayode olatunbosun fayokun early marriage forces girls into adulthood before they are emotionally and physically matured, leading to a range of harmful effects on their health, education, economic and social development. Barriers to girl child education in nigeria especially in the north have been identified as poverty, early marriage, cultural and religious misconceptions as well as teenage pregnancy williams, 1960. Despite the fact that they are legally prohibited, child marriages are prevalent in the country, especially within muslim community. The share of girls marrying very early, before the age of 15. I am not of the belief that two wrongs make a right.
While much of the impact remains hidden, it is absolutely clear that millions of children and young people par. Focus shall be put on child marriage in general exemplified in particular by two countries in. Pdf the practice of child marriages in nigeria has never been pleasant. Most women and girls also lack social and economic power to control the impact of the epidemic in their lives. However, the impact of child marriage can have devastating impacts of the child being married off and the society at large. Nigeria is a great country with great people but to sustain the development of the nation, a particular breed which enhances the development of any nation has been left to the menace of early marriage. In nigeria, where the hiv epidemic is selective of young females, child marriage may be a significant risk factor for adolescent girls some 5. The region with the highest level of girlbrides in nigeria also repreless than 20. Flourish ituluaabumere article pdf available january 2014 with 460 reads how we measure reads. He said marriage will bring me respect in the community.
Chidl marriage in ngi er context child marriage refers to a formal or informal union in which at least one of the parties is under 18 years of age. For example, in nigeria child marriage and to a lower extent pregnancies. Abstract this brief has provided a basic profile of child marriage in nigeria. Legality of child marriage in nigeria and inhibitions against. Over the years we have seen children been married out as bride when they should be in school. However, as the rule of fairplay necessitates, we will also highlight briefly the arguments against the girl child education and let you draw your ultimate conclusion. The practice of child marriage in nigeria huffpost. Getting married before reaching at this minimum legal age is not only illegal but also against. The research and preparation of this report were supported by generous funding from the david and lucile packard. The issue of child marriage is getting renewed attention among policy makers.
The study recommended feasible and applicable way forward to abolish and manage the victims of early girl child marriage. Despite being prohibited by international law, it continues to rob millions of girls under 18 around the world of their childhood. A major challenge minh cong nguyen and quentin wodon. In despite of all attention drawn to child marriage across the world, there is a lack of improvement. Besides, child marriage is a direct form of discrimination against the girl child who as a result of the practice is often deprived of her basic rights to health, education, development and equality. The imposition of family honor on a girl s individuality, in essence, robbing the girl of her honor and dignity, undermines the credibility of family honor and instead underscores the presumed protections actual aim.
Girls not brides is a global partnership of more than 1400 civil society organisations committed to ending child marriage and enabling girls to fulfil their potential. The object of this research is to look into under what circumstances child marriage does exist and how girls living conditions can be improved. 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. Marriage in nigeria by 2030 therefore outlines, discusses and suggests what can and should be done to end. Pdf child marriage in nigeria by chidinma kosa ewelike. Negative effect of early girl child marriage on nigeria the. Insights into early marriage and girls education in northern. Ending child marriage in africa human rights watch. Data shows a 9% decline in the prevalence of child marriage compared to 2003. In 2017 in nigeria, 43% of girls are married off before the age of 18. 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. Globally, one in every five girls is married, or in union, before reaching age 18.
As a result, their infants and children have higher survival rates and tend to be healthier and better nourished. Every minute a girl child is married off against her will, education attainment terminated and dreams aborted by this. Early marriage is a violation of childrens human rights. House of representatives human rights commissions human rights commission. In late modernity, one will presume that child marriage has been outdated but that is so. Today, over 60 million marriages include girls under the age of 18 years. Early girl child marriage is a barbaric act, mans inhumanity to man, is a common practice in most developing countries. Early child marriage in nigeria relegates the girl child to a vulnerable position and results in violations of the fundamental human rights of the girl child. Two research hypotheses were tested using chisquare and the result shows that early girl child marriage has a negative effect on nigeria. Child marriage is most common in the north west and north east of nigeria, where 68% and 57% of women aged 2049 were married before their 18th birthday.
Legal issues, complications, implications, prospects and solutions article pdf available january 2014 with,268 reads how we measure reads. Building on the body of equality nows work for the protection of girls and womens rights, this report illustrates the impact of child marriage through 11 case studies and includes an analysis of the laws and issues. Boys are also affected by child marriage but the issue impacts girls in far larger numbers and with more intensity. Cultural traditions and practices of the parents as. Child spouses in 2001, exploring both the reasons behind the perpetuation of child marriage and its harmful impact. The the causes, consequences and solutions to causes, consequences and solutions tocauses, consequences and solutions to forced forced forced child marriage child marriage child marriage in the developing worldin the developing world testimony submitted to u. Ending child marriage would generate large welfare benefits through a reduction in population growth, helping to usher in the demographic dividend. Kebbi state, like every other state in northern nigeria, grapples with low girl child enrolment in school and colleges. Some of them were already mentioned above, but here is a more detailed description of them. Child marriage in nigeria is an issue that continues to draw debates among various school of thoughts. Using the law to end child, early and forced marriage and related human rights violations. The purpose of this study is to identify interpret and understand the effect of early marriage on the academic performance of the girl child with a view to recommending appropriate measure to be taken in order to enhance their welfare in terms of education and thus empower them to become relevant and potential citizens of the contemporary nigeria.
Part v draws conclusions and proposes recommendations, such as the need for a prohibition of child marriage act, in order to protect the girl child in nigeria. Child marriage impedes girls education the education a girl receives is the strongest predictor of the age she will marry, according to icrw analysis in 18 of the 20 countries with the highest prevalence of child marriage. The causes, consequences and solutions to forced child marriage. We conclude that there are intergenerational consequences of girl child marriage on her child s wellbeing, and that through association with other contextual, socioeconomic, and biological factors, marrying early does matter for child development and health. Education will benefit such parents on the very harmful effects of forced early childhood marriage. Adebambo 2010, child marriages are mostly conducted without the valid consent of one or both parties and are a marriage in duress. Mauritania and nigeria, more than half of adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 who are currently married have husbands who are 10 or more years older than they are. The cause and effect of teenage pregnancy in this local government is not as high as it used to be because of socialization and modernization and many of those girls who held strictly to islamic injuction have now know the importance of formal education. This study aims to address the existing research gap by specifically examining the influence of ethnic and religious affiliations on girl child marriage based on a nationally representative sample of female adolescents in nigeria. Child marriage ceases education for girls, so the younger a girl is married, the less educated and the more economically dependent she is to others shawki 58. Pdf negative effect of early girlchild marriage on nigeria. Child marriage in nigeria undermines national development efforts towards achieving more educated, healthier and stable populations as it often involves the end of formal education.
Child marriage essay introduction causes impact imp days. This paper is in line with the spirit of the current debate on child marriage in nigeria. However, i think that the issue is a little bit more complicated than a 14yearold girl killing her husband. Child marriage briefing nigeria population council. Wasila, 14, was given out in marriage to umar sani, 35, in gezawa, outside the northern city of kano in april, 2014. Child marriage is generally understood to mean marriages that take place before age 18, but for many girls, marriage occurs much earlier.
Shahidul international islamic university of malaysia malaysia a. The nigerian schoolgirls fighting against child marriage cnn. This is in part because child marriage remains highly prevalent despite efforts by many developing country. In chapter 1, we provide some background information on forced marriage, the gaps and shortcomings of existing literature, and a discussion on how this information is relevant to programmes aimed at eliminating this practice. Child marriage, defined as marriage of a child under 18 years of age, is a silent and yet widespread practice. Nigeria is the 11th highest nation in the world for percentage of child marriages. Ethnicity, religious affiliation and girlchild marriage. Child marriage among girls is most common in south asia. Estimates presented here are based on a subset of 49 african countries with available data covering 97 per cent. Many girls who are married off before they turn 18 or are forced into early marriages are made to leave school, depriving them of their right to education and future independence. Child marriage is particularly common among nigerias poorest, rural households and the hausa ethnic group. In subsaharan africa, a staggering 40 percent of girls marry before age 18, and african countries account for 15 of the 20 countries with the highest rates of child marriage. However some countries allow marriages at 16 years as well, especially for the girl children.
Pregnancy at a very tender age can lead to many complications as a girls body will not be ready for childbirth. Despite laws against it, the practice remains widespread. The facts on child marriage international womens health. The article refers to a recent article on child marriage in nigeria, published in this journal, as a broad context to examine two issues.
Unicef s innocenti research centre published the digest early marriage. Despite being prohibited by international law, it continues to rob millions of girls under 18 around the world of. Therefore, child marriage in nigeria has an inevitable impact on those who are subjected to it, and here are consequences of this kind of marriage for young girls. For china, internationally comparable and nationally representative data on child marriage prevalence have not been available historically. Women and girls lack access to societal factors predisposing men, women, boys and girls to hiv. In some countries, girls as young as 7 or 8 are forced by their families to marry much older men. Legality of child marriage in nigeria and inhibitions against realisation of education rights kayode olatunbosun fayokun obafemi awolowo university, ileife, nigeria early marriage forces girls into adulthood before they are emotionally and physically matured, leading to a range of. According to unicef, nigeria has the third highest absolute number of child brides in the world 3,538,000 and the 11th highest prevalence rate of child marriage globally. Child marriage violates the rights of the girl child to be free from all forms of discrimination, inhuman and degrading treatment, and slavery. Child marriage is extremely prevalent in some regions. The region with the highest level of girl brides in nigeria also repreless than 20. The share of women ages 1822 who married as children is 42. Over the years we have seen children been married out as bride when they. The practice of child marriages in nigeria has never been pleasant.
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