CHILD MARRAIGEEvery Year 15 million children are married

By 2030 15.4 million children will get marriedevery year

WOMEN AFFECTED

250 million girls were married before they turned 15

In 2010, 70 million young girls between 20-24 were married before they turned 18

MEN AFFECTED

156 million men alive were married before they turned 18

33 million men alive were married before they turned 15

75%

68% 68%65% 63%

55%52% 52% 50% 48%

Counties with Highest Child Marriage before 18

Percentage

India is on 13th position @47%

36%

29% 29% 29%

20% 20% 20%18% 18%

16%

Countries with highest % in Child Marriage Under 15 years

Why Does it Happen?

Tradition

Simply because it has happened for generations

Straying from tradition could mean exclusion from the community

Gender Role

Girls are not valued as much as boys, they are seen as a burden.

Poverty

Giving daughter in marriage allows the family to reduce on their daughters expenses

Where a dowry is paid, it is often welcome income for poor families

They often have to pay less money if the bride is young and uneducated.

Security

To ensure her safety in areas where girls are at high risk of physical or sexual assault.

Poverty-More likely to be poor and remain poor

Education-Drop out of school

Inequality-Little say when and whom they will marry

Health- 5 times more likely to marry when children

HIV/AIDS-High risk of HIV/AIDS

Violence

33% 31% 31% 31%28% 26%

12%11% 10% 10%

9%8%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

% Below 15

% 15-18

If progress is accelerated , there will be 1 in 10 child marriage compared to 1 in 4 now

LEGISLATION

Child Marriage was outlawed in 1929, under Indian Law

British colonial time, legal minimum age was 15-girls, 18-boys

Personal law Shariat Act was passed in 1937 that allowed child

marriages with consent from girl's guardian. (Muslim)

After independence and adoption of Indian constitution in 1950, the

child marriage act has undergone several revisions.

The minimum legal age for marriage, since 1978, has been 18 for

women and 21 for men.

The National Plan of Action for Children, 2005, Ministry of Women

and Child Development aims to eliminate child marriages by 2010

Child Marriage Restrain ActIt came into force from the 1st of April, 1930

Punishment for anyone who performed or directed a child marriage ceremony became imprisonment of up to three months and a possible fine unless he could prove the marriage he performed was not a child marriage

Age Imprisonment Fine

Male 18-21 15 days 1000 Both

Above 21 3 months Yes

The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006It came into effect on 1 November 2007 to address and fix the shortcomings of the Child Marriage Restraint Act

Boys and girls forced into child marriages as minors have the option of voiding their marriage up to two years after reaching adulthood

In certain circumstances, marriages of minors can be null and void before they reach adulthood.

All valuables, money, and gifts must be returned if the marriage is nullified, and the girl must be provided with a place of residency until she marries or becomes an adult

Children born from child marriages are considered legitimate, and the courts are expected to give parental custody with the children's best interests in mind.

Any male over 18 years of age who enters into a marriage with a minor or anyone who directs or conducts a child marriage ceremony can be punished with up to two years of imprisonment or a fine.

What Can BE Done?Educating and empowering girlsSupporting young people to become activists for changeMobilizing and educating communitiesBringing men and traditional leaders on boardRaising awareness in the media

Thank YouPresentation byNeha MapariAarti DholeArpita RedkarPaul JoshyHafiz HemaniShubham Prabhu Moni