Marriage in nigeria by 2030 therefore outlines, discusses and suggests what can and should be done to end. Jun 12, 2014 the practice of child marriage in nigeria is prevalent. Nigeria has one of the highest child marriage prevalence rates in the world. Some of the causes of early marriage in nigeria include conflict, poverty, religion, and tradition. The article refers to a recent article on child marriage in nigeria, published in this journal, as a broad context to examine two issues. Agency for international development in nigeria, and the david and lucille packard foundation, among others. Child marriage is child abuse as it has severe and negative psychosocial effects on their victims. Child marriage refers to a formal or informal union in which at least one of the parties is under 18 years of age. Nigeria is the 11th highest nation in the world for percentage of child marriages. The issue of child marriage is getting renewed attention among policy makers. 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 child s rights act of 2003, where it is pointed out that the age of consent for a child is 18 years old. The share of women ages 1822 who married as children is 42. The practice of child marriage in nigeria huffpost. In 2017 in nigeria, 43% of girls are married off before the age of 18.
Child marriages in india the red elephant foundation december 20 e 4 introduction child marriage refers to the marriage of a child younger than 18 years old,1 in accordance to article 1 of the convention on the right of the child. Regionally, there have been a number of african mechanisms and institutions that have recognised and taken steps to address the harmful impact of child marriage. Child spouses in 2001, exploring both the reasons behind the perpetuation of child marriage and its harmful impact. In nigeria, where the hiv epidemic is selective of young females, child marriage may be a significant risk factor for adolescent girls some 5. This harmful practice affects niger more than anywhere in the world, and the rate varies considerably between regions. Nigeria, particularly northern nigeria, has some of the highest rates of early marriage in the world.
The child rights act, passed in 2003, raised the minimum age. Findings from implementation research in nigeria the fact that girls witnessed their seniors. Child, or early marriage often has negative effects and consequences for a girls wellbeing, health, and education, which explains why the practice has been outlawed in nigeria. 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.
Why ending child marriage needs to be an education goal. While data suggests a decline of 9 per cent in the prevalence of child marriage since 2003, and a projected further decrease of 6 per cent by 2030, nigeria s rapid. Child marriage is particularly common among nigerias poorest, rural households and the hausa ethnic group. According to the child s rights act 2003, sections 21 and 22, the age of consent in nigeria is 18 years. Today, over 60 million marriages include girls under the age of 18 years. Early marriage denies girls their right to make vital decisions about their sexual health and wellbeing. This harmful practice affects niger more than anywhere in the world.
Globally, one in every five girls is married, or in union, before reaching age 18. Nigeria has the largest number of child brides in africa with more than 23 million girls and women who were married as children, most of them from poor and rural communities. 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.
Dimension, reasons for its persistence and probable solutions olaitan o. Child marriage essay introduction causes impact solution slogan speech quotes child marriage essay introduction. Child marriage is most common in rural areas 100 80 50 10 90 60 20 70 30 40 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 rural urban child marriage is more common in rural areas child marriage is more common in urban areas togo suriname ghana guyana peru senegal nigeria 15. Child marriage is one of the biggest human rights violations in the world. Despite laws against it, the practice remains widespread. Ewelike 1 chidinma kosa ewelike university of alberta, augustana campus. Despite being prohibited by international law, it continues to rob millions of girls under 18 around the world of their childhood. The share of girls marrying very early, before the age of 15. In many cultures, including that of nigeria, marriage is regarded as a legitimate way for two. The child rights act, passed in 2003, raised the minimum age of marriage to 18 for girls. In simple terms, child marriage is the marriage of a person aged before majority. The south is mainly christian and the north is principally islam. 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 in nigeria according to unicef, child marriage is defined as a.
Nigeria is the third country worldwide for absolute number of child brides united nations population fund unfpa. Child, early, and forced marriage and psychological trauma of girls in northeast. A major challenge minh cong nguyen and quentin wodon. In may 2014, the african union au launched a campaign to end child marriage in africa, by enhancing continental awareness of its. 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. Forced at 15 the west african country of niger has the highest rate of child marriage in the world. Building resilience and resistance to child, early, and forced marriage through acquiring skills. The national strategic plan to end child marriage in nigeria. Issues, problems and challenges, a paper presented at a one day seminar organised by national open university of nigeria, lagos on the. Jan 17, 2019 causes and effects of child marriage in nigeria. It is obvious that zainab did not consent to the marriage. Causes and effects of child marriage in nigeria research cyber. In most of the countries the minimum legal age for the child marriage is 18 years. Child marriage is particularly common among nigeria s poorest, rural households and the hausa ethnic group.
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. 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. 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. 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 briefing nigeria population council.
For china, internationally comparable and nationally representative data on child marriage prevalence have not been available historically. The share of girls marrying very early, before the age of 15, has also declined. Child marriage essay introduction causes impact imp days. Despite the efforts of the authorities and partners, the rate of child marriage has barely changed in 20 years. This tradition jeopardises the future of the young girls forced into such marriages and endangers their health. The causes, consequences and solutions to forced child marriage. This can partly be explained because nigeria is very much divided on religious grounds. In despite of all attention drawn to child marriage across the world, there is a lack of improvement. Child marriage is a widespread practice in subsaharan africa which leads to violation of human rights. Early marriage is a violation of childrens human rights.
However, federal law may be implemented differently at the state level, and to date, only a few of. This is in part because child marriage remains highly prevalent despite efforts by many developing country. Pdf the article refers to a recent article on child marriage in nigeria, published in this journal, as a broad context to examine two issues. While data suggests a decline of 9 per cent in the prevalence of child marriage since 2003, and a projected further decrease of 6 per cent by 2030, nigerias rapid population growth means that the number of child brides will in fact increase by more than one million by 2030 and double by 2050. This brief has provided a basic profile of child marriage in nigeria.
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. Several international nongovernmental organizations ngos have define child marriage. The underlying fact remains that child marriage must be completely abolished in nigeria, it is one of the greatest social injustices of our time. The object of this research is to look into under what circumstances child marriage does exist and how girls living conditions can be improved. Health implication of child marriage in northeast nigeria 55 many of such vulnerable young girls have no choice about the timing of their marriage or proper knowledge of their partner as some are forced into it. Building resilience and resistance to child, early, and forced. Child marriage unfpa united nations population fund. House of representatives human rights commissions human rights commission. 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.
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. Idowu there can be no keener revelation of a societys soul than the way in which it treats its children. Pdf child marriage in nigeria by chidinma kosa ewelike. Child marriage, defined as marriage of a child under 18 years of age, is a silent and yet widespread practice. Its causes are multiple and overlapping and its effects are lifelong for the victims and their communities. Focus shall be put on child marriage in general exemplified in particular by two countries in. 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. Legality of child marriage in nigeria and inhibitions against. The causes, consequences and solutions to forced child. Early child marriage in nigeria child marriage customs, a situation whereby children are given into marriage well before they attain puberty occur all over the world particularly in africa, asia, and south america. Ending child marriage in africa human rights watch. Jan 08, 2019 early child marriage in nigeria child marriage customs, a situation whereby children are given into marriage well before they attain puberty occur all over the world particularly in africa, asia, and south america.