Child Marriage: Cultural Right Or Global Blight?

Do you think child marriage is a cultural right or a global blight? Be part of the discussion by sharing your views below.

We’ve asked some experts to kick-start the discussion:   

"Child marriage is a violation of girls’ rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Indian laws and rights protection charter and several other regional agreements covering most parts of the world. It undermines young women’s health, disrupts their education and limits their options. Child marriage also brings high development costs by entrenching girls and their future families in lives of poverty.

In addition, child marriage generally means that girls drop out of school and lose options for further study, better employment or economic empowerment.  They also lack choices in the control of household income and decision-making on many issues, including their own health. Young brides are often married to much older men and have fewer chances of exercising their human right to make informed decisions since they are not treated as peers by their spouses. 

Furthermore, child marriage violates the right of the girl child to choose when and whom to marry when she is mature and to choose when to become pregnant. Girl brides have limited access to information and reproductive health care, including family planning. The majority are exposed to repeated pregnancies and childbirth before they are physically mature and psychologically ready.

Pregnant girls are also at risk of obstetric fistula, which is one of the most devastating consequences, with more than two million girls and women affected by this treatable and preventable injury. Pregnancy-related complications are also the leading causes of death among 15–19-year-old girls, and those aged under 15 years are five times more likely to die than women older than 20. A study confirmed that pregnant young women from poorer communities were eight times less likely to have access to skilled birth attendants than their age mates in the wealthiest 20 per cent of their communities."

In another debate, Dr.Krishna Prasad says:

In the developing world it’s estimated 1 in 7 girls is married before the age of 15 and in many communities, marrying a girl before she turns 18 is a cultural norm. Yet child marriage is a human rights issue, too: young brides rarely choose when and whom they marry, they usually have to leave school, and early pregnancy often endangers their health. By working to end child marriage, are we setting girls’ rights and cultural rights on a collision course?

Dr.Krishna Prasad see culture as a force for good that binds communities together and often represents humanity’s most impressive achievements. But they have also spoken out firmly against the misuse of cultural and traditional practices to justify discrimination against girls and women. 

Ultimately, culture and tradition are not static – they evolve. As Dr.Krishna Prasad says: “When we talk of tradition – some people call it culture – we talk like it cannot be changed… But tradition is man-made. Yes, we must be respectful, but we must also have the courage to acknowledge when traditions cause harm.” We will not end child marriage by pitting cultural rights against human rights. Instead, we must focus on how culture can help to protect and enhance the rights of millions of girls. 

Another discussion point outs:

Girls who marry as children are deprived of an education, subjected to sexual and physical abuse and are more likely to die during child birth. Most around the globe would not accept such a life; no one would want the "right" to such outcomes for their daughters – or sons. And the fact is, girls themselves don’t want to be child brides. Parents love their daughters. And people worldwide are coming together to help curtail child marriage. This shows that while child marriage may be a traditional practice in some cultures, it by no means is viewed as a cultural right.

What’s more, no one desires a right to experience the grave consequences child marriage has on societies as a whole. Nations cannot become more democratic, economically prosperous or cultivate a strong labor force if 40 to 70 percent of young girls have slim chances at staying healthy, finishing their education or contributing to the political or economic fabric of their communities.

The good news is that there are solutions to end child marriage. Parents, community leaders and governments are stepping up and taking responsibility for preventing child marriages. Most important, young people—and girls themselves – are unequivocal about what they want for their lives, and nowhere in the world do they aspire to be child brides."

Now, this time your turns to discuss the issue and post in our comment area. If you want to send email, please email us at hydnews@gmail.com.

http://www.manjeera.com