Ending child marriage

As we celebrated another International Day of the Girl Child, we are alarmed by the statistics that suggest that Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of child marriages in the world. According to a Unicef report published in 2014, 74% of Bangladeshi girls under 18 years, and 39% of girls under 15 are married off. Despite efforts from various stakeholders, including the government and NGOs, to reduce the incidences of child marriage over the years, we are still lagging behind other South Asian nations. 

Child marriage is a clear violation of girls' rights. Apart from restraining a girl's autonomy and causing her grave psychological trauma, child marriages lead to abrupt termination of education and life-threatening health problems. Studies indicate that girls from economically impoverished rural backgrounds are twice as likely to be married than urban girls, and those with no education are more than thrice as likely to be married before 18. 

Under the circumstances, it is imperative that we address the inequalities that aggravate child marriage, and provide education and other opportunities to girls such that they can stand on their own feet. We also need to inculcate egalitarian gender norms among children, parents and communities.

The government must play a more pro-active role in reducing child marriage, not only by ensuring proper implementation of laws against child marriage, but by intervening at a macro level and addressing the socio-economic causes of child marriage. We also urge it to immediately withdraw its proposal to reduce the minimum marriage age of girls from 18 to 16.