Introduction 

Unlike the education of boys, which has always been unhindered, the education of girls in Africa has, for as long as anyone can remember, been a much-discussed subject, yet there still seem to be no reliable solutions to this injustice. There are many reasons for this disparity. However, one of the main causes of this injustice is the forced and early marriage of young girls.

The Concept of Early Marriage

Early marriage is defined as the union of two people, one of whom has not given her free consent to the marriage. According to UNICEF statistics, over eighteen million people fall victim to this practice every year, the majority of whom are underage girls aged between 9 and 16. Mainly practised in Africa, particularly in the Maghreb and sub-Saharan regions, this type of union is caused by a number of factors.

Poverty

Many parents, because of the precarious living conditions in which they live with their families and the many difficulties they face, are often forced to give their under-age daughters in marriage in order to meet the needs of the other members of their families, without taking into account the feelings and age of the girls concerned.

Cultural Considerations

In many countries, particularly in Africa, a boy and a girl are not equal in cultural terms or in the eyes of the community. While boys, by virtue of their sex, enjoy all the privileges conferred by their status as human beings, girls, considered less than animals, are often deprived of their most fundamental rights from birth, namely the right to education and to choose their marriage partner.

Conclusion

Generally speaking, we can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that the under-education of young African girls is largely due to the forced and early marriages of which they are increasingly the victims in their communities. In addition to all the factors listed above, another reason for early marriage is mimicry and the lack of awareness among young people of the risks that such a situation can entail. Public awareness campaigns would go a long way to reducing this abuse and, with even greater efforts, to abolishing it in today’s society.