Poverty drives child marriage as families use the practice to escape their poor economic situation. Large families feel the burden of poverty to a greater extent, with many regarding underage marriages as a tool to decrease the burden of families that are unable to take care of their children. People often use underage marriages as a tool to settle financial debt between families and creditors. Child marriages further aggravate the poverty cycle as child brides are often illiterate and have received little to no formal education, fueling their dependency on their spouses. Here is information about child marriage in Libya and efforts to address it.

A Profile of Libya 

Libya has been enduring a civil war for over a decade, and child marriages in Libya are increasing because of the continued deprivation that the civil war has brought upon the population. Libya has faced ongoing social and political upheaval since the Arab Spring uprising in 2011. The uprising ousted Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, ending his regime after 42 years in power. Since 2014, Libya has been divided between United Nations-backed western Libya and eastern Libya under military rule from the Libyan National Army, known as the LNA. 

To unify Libya, the United Nations and the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum created the interim Government of National Unity (GNU) in 2021. Based in Libya’s capital city of Tripoli, the GNU has received international recognition as Libya’s central government. Opposing the GNU is the Government of National Stability, known as the GNS, is a civilian-led administration that the Libyan House of Representatives established in 2022. The GNS is situated in eastern Libya and has limited control.

The LNA commander, Kalifa Haftar holds real power within eastern Libya. The GNS and Haftar have received support from Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. The ongoing struggle between the GNU, the GNS and the LNA has fueled political unrest and widespread violence has further worsened the economic situation, which is increasing rates of child marriage in Libya. International human rights organizations are intensifying their scrutiny of the GNU and GNS for allowing the exploitation of children to continue, violating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Prevalence of Child Marriage in Libya 

Data on child marriage in Libya is limited due to restricted access to judicial records amid the ongoing unrest and violence. Between 2021- 2024, Libya registered more than 1,000 underage marriages. Child marriage, which Libyan law defines as the union of persons under the age of 18, is prohibited unless specific exceptions are granted. Libyan law requires individuals to be of sound mind and at least 18-years-old to marry. However, family court judges have the legislative right to authorize underage marriage if the guardian of the minor has given permission and the judge deems the marriage essential. Judges are necessary to meet the minor once, with no social or psychological evaluation necessary for the approval of the marriage.

Between 2011-2017, a  Tripoli courthouse recorded more than 100 underage marriages of children as young as 14 years old, with the largest age gap between spouses being 38 years. Child marriages are more prevalent in southern and rural areas where religious extremism is on the rise. 

In 2021, the GNU launched a marriage facilitation fund offering grants of 40,000 LYD ($8,770 USD) split equally between the two spouses. Given the state of economic instability in Libya, some families are arranging child marriages for economic relief. Internally displaced persons are among the most vulnerable groups and are able to use the fund as a lifeline. In 2021, the youngest recipient of this fund was a 12-year-old girl.

The Consequences of Child Marriage 

Child marriages have severe psychological and physical consequences for minors, particularly girls. Reports from Libya contain testimonies of doctors performing caesarean sections on girls as young as 14. Girls face heightened risks of miscarriage, premature delivery and infant-mother mortality due to their physical immaturity and lack of adequate health care infrastructure in Libya. Child marriage disproportionately affects girls and they are more likely to experience sexual and domestic violence, limited education and economic dependence on their spouse, which renders them unable to leave their situation. Mental health data shows that girls in underage marriages have higher rates of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Libya’s Strategy to End Child Marriages 

Local women’s rights organizations in Libya have launched the “Not Before 18” campaign to combat child marriages. The campaign includes school-based sessions led by social workers for young girls and their parents to raise awareness about the consequences of underage marriage. The campaign also features women speakers to encourage social development, particularly in rural areas where child marriage is more prevalent.

The Ra’idat program, which the United Nations created, is a year-long leadership and advocacy training initiative for young Libyan women. It equips women with skills in communication, media and civic engagement along with opportunities for further training through the European Union and the African Union. Education is a key strategy for breaking the cycle of poverty and for preventing child marriage in Libya.

– Liberty Whitford Webb

Liberty is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

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