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Child marriage remains a global crisis, depriving millions of girls of education, health, and future opportunities. In 2024, Colombia achieved a significant milestone by outlawing child marriage after a 17-year campaign, closing a 137-year legal loophole. The country is now one of only 12 in Latin America and the Caribbean to completely ban the practice for minors. Meanwhile, Save the Children's 'Global Girlhood Report 2024: Fragile Futures' highlights a devastating link between child marriage and fragile states, where 32 million girls live in "fragility-child marriage hotspots." Despite progress in some areas, rates remain alarmingly high, perpetuating poverty, inequality, and lifelong harm.
Click on to learn more about the sad reality of child marriage around the world.
A girl is married every 30 seconds in countries ranked as fragile, with high child marriage rates.
Around 32 million adolescent girls live in these "fragility-child marriage hotspots."
Fragile states lack governmental control over services like law enforcement, healthcare, and education. These issues, worsened by crises like wars and disasters, drive child marriage rates higher.
Save the Children's 2024 report reveals that eight out of 10 of the worst fragility-child marriage hotspots are in Africa. The Central African Republic, Chad, and South Sudan are the most affected.
Outside Africa, countries in South Asia, like Bangladesh and India, and parts of the Middle East, such as Yemen, also report high child marriage rates.
Save the Children found that girls in fragile states are twice as likely to marry before 17 compared to more stable countries.
In fragile countries, one in four girls gives birth before the age of 18. Many lack access to skilled healthcare, leading to increased risks of complications and maternal mortality.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reported in 2022 that 60 countries were classified as fragile, up from 57 in 2020. This growing fragility affects 170 million girls, increasing child marriage rates.
Countries facing conflict, instability, or climate disasters contribute to a higher prevalence of child marriage. In these fragile states, poverty and insecurity push families to marry off young girls for perceived safety.
Girls who marry early often drop out of school, losing access to education and economic opportunities. This deepens cycles of poverty and limits their ability to make informed decisions.
Young brides face increased risks of pregnancy-related complications, including higher maternal and infant mortality rates, due to their age and lack of healthcare access.
Child marriage heightens the risk of physical violence and exploitation. Married girls in fragile countries often lack autonomy over their bodies and lives, facing significant challenges and enduring lifelong trauma.
Climate-related crises worsen fragility, pushing families into poverty and leading to higher rates of child marriage as families seek financial security through dowries.
While Colombia banned child marriage in 2024, many regions lack enforceable laws, leaving millions of girls in fragile states vulnerable to this harmful practice.
Child marriage remains a global issue, and efforts to reduce it face significant challenges in fragile and conflict-affected regions.
Child marriage perpetuates poverty across generations. Girls who marry young are less likely to educate their own children, continuing cycles of inequality and limited opportunities.
Many countries still allow exceptions to child marriage laws, undermining global progress and leaving millions of girls unprotected.
What are the most effective strategies to end child marriage? Click on to uncover the key solutions that governments and individuals can adopt to eliminate this practice.
Raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 and ensure strict enforcement of laws banning child marriage, with no loopholes or exceptions.
Provide free, quality education for girls, as staying in school is one of the most effective ways to delay marriage and empower young women.
Address poverty, a major driver of child marriage, by offering economic incentives, cash transfers, and income-generating programs for families in vulnerable communities.
Educate girls about their rights, reproductive health, and the long-term impacts of child marriage, giving them tools to advocate for themselves and their futures.
Work with local leaders, religious figures, and community members to challenge traditional norms and practices that perpetuate child marriage.
In fragile and conflict-affected regions, prioritize interventions like safe spaces, education programs, and protective measures to shield girls from forced marriages.
Offer vocational training, scholarships, and mentorship programs to give girls alternatives to early marriage and help them envision brighter futures.
Promote international campaigns to highlight the issue, mobilize funding, and encourage governments to take actionable steps against child marriage.
Establish systems to track child marriage rates and program effectiveness, ensuring that interventions are impactful.
Sources: (Save The Children) (The Guardian)
See also: Shocking facts about gender inequality
The sad reality of child marriage around the world
A girl marries every 30 seconds
LIFESTYLE Social issues
Child marriage remains a global crisis, depriving millions of girls of education, health, and future opportunities. In 2024, Colombia achieved a significant milestone by outlawing child marriage after a 17-year campaign, closing a 137-year legal loophole. The country is now one of only 12 in Latin America and the Caribbean to completely ban the practice for minors. Meanwhile, Save the Children's 'Global Girlhood Report 2024: Fragile Futures' highlights a devastating link between child marriage and fragile states, where 32 million girls live in "fragility-child marriage hotspots." Despite progress in some areas, rates remain alarmingly high, perpetuating poverty, inequality, and lifelong harm.
Click on to learn more about the sad reality of child marriage around the world.