Marriage is an important institution of a society. Marriage is important as it forms a family. A husband and wife share a physical and emotional relationship. A man and a woman get together to form a relationship that is driven by trust and respect. It is a relationship that requires maturity as it is a social union that builds a home.

WHAT IS CHILD MARRIAGE?

Child marriage happens when a marriage takes place involving one partner who is a child or when both partners are children – that is if they are below 14 years of age. In most cases, a girl child is married to an older man. There are many reasons for child marriage. Girls are married to receive a dowry or because of social pressure. Girls are also married because of poverty and to protect them against exploitation. However, we must realize that a girl is not an object that can be traded.

In Africa, more than 70% of girls marry before the age of 18 years. Sometimes, girls are married even before they attain puberty. Marriage is a relationship entered into by two people who are equal. When a child marriage takes place, the girl is not an equal as she is underage and is easily impressionable by the man she marries.

CHILD MARRIAGE CAN LEAD TO PHYSICAL VIOLENCE

The man in a child marriage is more powerful, physically and emotionally since he is older. This is a problem as the voice of the girl is often left unheard. It is because of this that child marriage is often accompanied by physical abuse on the girl. She is often seen as property of her husband and not treated like an equal.

THE LAW ENACTS AN AGE FOR MARRIAGE

There is a reason why the law enacts an age for marriage. This age varies from 18 years in some countries to 16 years in others. The reason is that the law presumes that only people above that age are physically and emotionally able to understand and perform the duties of a marriage. However, in a child marriage the girl is not mature enough to understand the consequences of marriage.

CHILD MARRIAGES CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE PREGNANCIES

Child marriage means that the girl is made to enter into a physical relationship at a very young age. This can lead to early pregnancies. A girl’s body is not developed fully until she is an adult. If she is made to carry a child in such a situation, she would be exposing herself to physical and emotional complications in pregnancy, for the baby and also for her own health. After the baby is born, the young girl will have to look after the child. That is not only difficult for them emotionally in many cases, but it also leads to the girl not being able to do other things, such as getting an education.

CHILD MARRIAGE PREVENTS A GIRL FROM GETTING A PROPER EDUCATION

Another problem with child marriage is that girls are more often than not forced to drop out out of school. In other cases, girls are not sent to school because they will soon be married, so parents might feel it is not important for the girl to get an education. This is a big problem.

Educating a girl is very important. It is a human right of every child, boy or girl, to be educated. Educated girls will grow up to be confident women who can take care of themselves and their family. They will be able to get better jobs and earn more money to support themselves and their families. Educated girls also grow up to be great mothers – they can teach their children better about the life. It is said that when you educate a woman you educate an entire nation.

A CHILD HAS A RIGHT TO THEIR CHILDHOOD

Every phase of a person’s life is significant in its own way. At every age, people learn different things. Childhood is an age where a child learns about the world. Children should be given space to learn, enjoy and grow up to become responsible adults. Child marriage takes away a part of their childhood. A part that is very special and can never be returned.