Child Marriage Affecting Teens Education

Child marriage and education are closely linked. Girls with no education are 3 times as likely to marry by 18 as those with a secondary education. While it is still unclear if child marriage causes school dropout or vice versa, it is clear that child marriage often means the end to girls’ education. It has been found that child brides have an increased risk of dropping out of school, and entering sex-work (Beattie, et al). When a girl drops out of school, she is denied her right to an education and the ability to develop the skills and knowledge needed to live a healthy and fulfilling life. Girls drop out of school shortly before their marriage and once she is out of school, she is more vulnerable to early pregnancy. Returning to school is …show more content…
These rights are guaranteed to all people in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention of the Rights of Child, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, as well as other international and regional human rights documents (The Universal Declaration). Simply put, child marriage robs girls of education, their health, their future, and sometimes their lives. It is also one of the biggest barriers to achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals. In India, the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act was passed in 2006, and states that the marriageable age of a girl is 18 years old (Handbook). If girls cannot access education to learn about the legislation against child marriage, they cannot fight for their rights. Children are recognized in the law as being children and are under protection of law. The existence of laws that set a minimum age for marriage is an important step that helps those working to dissuade families and communities from marrying off their daughters as children. Unfortunately, even thought there is legislation against child marriage in India, it is still a commonly accepted practice. Strong legal framework exists, but their enforcement is weak. The reasons for non-implementation of the law varies, but can include the lack of …show more content…
This committee met in Bhawrak, a small village in India’s most populous state. With a population of almost 200 million, the state also has the largest number of children in the country. UNICEF chose this village because all of the families who lived in Bhwrak belonged to a socially excluded and marginalized caste. The committee members pledged their support against child marriage though a public declaration that they will not marry their own daughters before 18