DELAYING CHILD MARRIAGE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

摘要

THE PROBLEM Child marriage abruptly ends a girl’s childhood and disrupts her education, forcing her to take on roles for which she is not emotionally and physically ready. The practice—which occurs before a girl reaches age 18 and sometimes as young as age 5—not only violates a girl’s human rights and endangers her health, but also often anchors her in poverty. In many cases married girls are forced into sex, and they are likely to become mothers before their bodies and minds are mature. Many girls who marry early have a husband who is considerably older, and have limited or no household authority. If current trends continue, between 2011 and 2020 more than 140 million girls worldwide will become child brides.