Child Marriage – An Introduction

 

Child Marriage – An Introduction

Child marriage is usually associated with a social practice prevalent in some societies in India, in which a young girl (usually under 15 years of age) is married to an adult man. Another type of child marriage is practiced by the parents of two children (boy and girl) who arrange their future marriage. In this practice, the two individuals (boy and girl) do not meet until they reach marriageable age, when their marriage is solemnized.

According to the law, the marriageable age is 21 years for men and 18 years for women. If either partner marries below this age, he or she can have the marriage declared void/annulled.

Effects of Child Marriage

Girls who are married at a young age are often at a higher risk of developing health problems related to sex and pregnancy at a young age, including HIV and obstetric fistula.

* Young girls, who lack status, power and maturity, are often victims of domestic violence, sexual violence and social exclusion.

* Early marriage almost always deprives girls of education or meaningful work, which leads to their continued poverty.

* Child marriage traps them in a web of gender discrimination, disease and poverty.

: Marrying girls at an early age, when they are not physically mature, leads to higher rates of maternal and infant mortality.

Causes of Child Marriage

* Poverty

* Low level of education for girls

* Girls are treated with low status and are considered an economic burden

* Social customs and traditions

* Child Marriage: Government and NGO initiatives to eradicate it

* Creating laws against child marriage

* Facilitating education for girls

* Changing harmful social norms

* Supporting community programmes

* Maximising support

* Providing economic opportunities for young women

* Meeting the rare needs of child brides

* Assessing programmes to see what works

Government initiatives

* Laws to prevent child marriage

The central government repealed the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act of 1929 and replaced it with a new and more progressive Prohibition of Child Marriage Act in 2006.

Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006

Offences and Punishment under this Act

Punishment for Male Adult: If any adult male who is above the age of 21 years solemnizes a child marriage, he may be punished with rigorous imprisonment for 2 years or fine of one lakh rupees or both.

Punishment for aiding in marriage: If any person aids, conducts, directs or abets any child marriage, he may be punished with rigorous imprisonment for 2 years or fine of one lakh rupees or both.

Punishment for promoting/permitting marriage: Any person including the parents or guardian of the child or any member of any other organisation who does any act to promote or permit the solemnization of a child marriage or negligently fails to prevent it, including attending or participating in such marriage, may, on conviction be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years or fine of one lakh rupees or both.

The offence under this Act is cognizable and non-bailable.

Under this new Act, strict provisions have been made against those who allow or encourage child marriage. Under this Act, the marriage of a man below 21 years of age and a woman below 18 years of age is defined as child marriage. This Act came into effect from November 2007.

" Stopping Child Marriage is the best way to protect Young Girls from being Abused."