Archive for category: Child Marriage

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Child Marriage in Hawaii: 5 Key Steps Toward Reform

Child Marriage in HawaiiWhile legal loopholes have historically allowed child marriage to persist in the United States, Hawaii is currently witnessing a powerful wave of advocacy and legislative evolution. The conversation is moving toward the empowerment of young people and the modernization of state protections. By closing gaps in the law, Hawaii is joining a global movement to ensure every child has the right to a full education and an autonomous future. Here is information about child marriage in Hawaii and efforts to address it.

Why Addressing Child Marriage in Hawaii Matters

Historically, Hawaii has faced a disproportionately high rate of child marriage compared to many other states. A landmark study utilizing American Community Survey data revealed that Hawaii ranked among the top states for child marriage prevalence, with more than 10 out of every 1,000 children surveyed having been married. This statistic highlights a deep-seated issue that many local communities overlooked for decades, leaving young individuals vulnerable to early legal unions before they could fully realize their independence.

Addressing child marriage in Hawaii is also a crucial step toward eliminating local poverty. While Hawaii boasts a thriving tourism industry, many residents face a high cost of living that drives vulnerable families into economic hardship. Research demonstrates that marrying young increases an individual’s likelihood of living in poverty during adulthood by 28 to 31 percentage points – a rate even higher than the poverty risk associated with dropping out of high school. By eliminating child marriage, the state can systematically remove a major barrier to financial stability and protect its youth from long-term economic vulnerability.

1. Strengthening the Legal Foundation 

The movement to reform the law regarding child marriage in Hawaii is gaining momentum through several key efforts:

  • Closing Legal Loopholes: While Hawaii’s standard marriage age is 18, current provisions allow 16- and 17-year-olds to marry if they obtain written consent from parents or a legal guardian.
  • Legislative Action: Advocacy groups actively work with state lawmakers to remove these age exceptions, ensuring the law acts as a definitive shield for minors.
  • Prioritizing Maturity: This proactive reform ensures that legal age requirements align with the maturity needed for a significant life commitment.

2. Ending Child Marriage in Hawaii Through Education

Advocacy groups highlight how ending the practice of child marriage in Hawaii can lead to better economic outcomes:

  • Completing Schooling: When young people delay marriage until adulthood, they have a higher likelihood of completing their education.
  • Career Stability: Higher education numbers correlate with increased earning potential and career stability.
  • Economic Investment: By protecting minors from early marriage, Hawaii invests in a future generation that is financially independent and empowered to contribute to the local economy.

3. Prioritizing Safety and Well-Being 

Currently, researchers and advocates place a spotlight on the link between age-appropriate marriage and domestic stability:

4. A Rise in Legislative Reform

Addressing child marriage in Hawaii aligns with an inspiring national trend toward total reform:

5. Advocacy and Global Support

The tireless work of organizations like Unchained at Last bolsters the progress concerning child marriage in Hawaii: 

The Push To End Child Marriage in Hawaii Continues

The momentum behind reforming the laws surrounding child marriage in Hawaii represents more than just a legal update; it is a vital step in breaking the cycle of poverty. By ensuring that every young person in Hawaii has the opportunity to complete their education and achieve financial independence, the state actively invests in long-term economic stability.

As advocacy grows and legislative efforts persist, Hawaii moves closer to a future where state laws protect, empower and give all children the tools to thrive in an autonomous life.

– Rebecca Cameron

Rebecca is based in Edinburgh, UK and focuses on Technology and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Child Marriage in Tajikistan: Multi-Sector Solutions Gain Momentum

Child Marriage in TajikistanEven though the law sets the minimum marriage age at 17 for girls and 18 for boys, many adolescent girls in Tajikistan still marry young. In 2022, courts approved 4,000 marriages at age 17, up from 2,500 in 2018. Human rights ombudsman Suhaili Qodiri called these numbers too high and urged stricter enforcement of the age 18 rule. Many religious nikah ceremonies are not officially registered. The rate of child marriage among women aged 20 to 24 fell from 10% to 9% between 1992 and 2017. Rural areas have higher rates at 13%, while cities have rates of 6%.

Courts Tighten Approval Standards

Some families in Tajikistan use Family Code Article 13, which allows marriage in exceptional circumstances, to arrange child marriages. In 2024, courts rejected 15% more of these requests after the ombudsman became involved. Poverty plays a significant role, with 80% of 17-year-old brides coming from conservative regions like Rasht and Khatlon, where families struggle financially. Enforcement efforts helped 1,200 girls return to school in 2023, and makhalla councils turned down 350 underage marriage requests following new legal reforms.

Education and Health

UNICEF holds theater performances in 300 villages each year, reaching 150,000 people with plays about the health risks and missed educational opportunities linked to child marriage. After these events, surveys show that 68% of parents chose to delay their daughters’ weddings by at least two years. Girls Not Brides trains 5,000 imams to speak against child marriage, reaching two million worshippers each week. As a result of these efforts, local councils now receive 25% fewer underage marriage requests as more elders support delaying marriage.

Additionally, the World Bank’s Adolescent Girls Initiative provides $30 monthly stipends to 50,000 families who keep their daughters in school after age 15. The program has raised secondary school enrollment by 18% in Khatlon and Sughd. Vocational centers train 10,000 teenagers each year in tailoring, agriculture and information technology, and graduates earn 35% more than early-married peers within two years. Child marriage in Tajikistan rates among stipend households fell from 22% in the poorest quintile to 11%.

In the Rasht Valley, mobile classrooms provide evening classes in 120 villages, helping 85% of working girls at risk of marriage at age 14 to finish school. Government scholarships provide uniforms and textbooks to 100,000 at-risk students, raising school retention from 65% to 82% between 2022 and 2025. The program also offers nutritional support, which has lowered anemia rates by 28% among participants through fortified meals.

In 2025, health ministry clinics screened 120,000 adolescent girls for reproductive risks related to child marriage in Tajikistan and distributed 300,000 booklets about health risks. Specialized camps treated 1,100 women for childbirth complications caused by teen pregnancies. Hotlines received 7,500 calls from minors seeking help to escape forced marriages. HIV screening is now part of these programs, reducing mother-to-child transmission rates by 22% among young brides in targeted districts.

Making Progress

From 2017 to 2020, Tajikistan prosecuted 36 cases under Article 168 for child marriage and 27 cases under Article 169 for marrying minors. Officiants can receive up to five years in prison. Following recommendations from the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), authorities increased oversight of nikah ceremonies and rejected 20% more parental petitions that cited cultural tradition. These enforcement steps help Tajikistan fulfill its 2023 Universal Periodic Review commitment to apply the age 18 rule across all 58 districts.

Surveys from the State Statistics Committee show that school dropouts caused by child marriage fell by 8% since the digital marriage registry started in 2023. New agreements with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan now block 90% of duplicate underage marriage applications by using shared databases. Donor-funded mobile registration units also help track child marriage in remote areas like the Pamir and Zeravshan mountains.

Tajikistan is sharing its court protocols for denying underage marriages at Central Asia summits through 2025 and is working to align marriage registration rules with neighboring countries. The Aga Khan Foundation runs 15 safe houses that shelter 900 escapees each year, offering counseling and helping families reunite. Awareness campaigns about child marriage now reach 65% of households. A 2025 poll found that 62% of household heads support marriage after age 20.

Looking Ahead

Tajikistan plans to lower child marriage rates to below 7% by 2030 through court enforcement, financial support, mobile education and community awareness, in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5. As more girls finish secondary school and enter the workforce, social norms are shifting. Girls who graduate from secondary school are three times less likely to marry before 18. Tajikistan’s multisector approach could serve as a model for other parts of Central Asia addressing similar challenges.

– Niaz Youssefian

Niaz is based in Cardiff, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Child Marriage in the DRC: Causes, Consequences and Solutions

Child Marriage in the DRCChild marriage consists of the formal union between two individuals where at least one of the two is under 18 years of age. Even if child marriage is illegal in most countries, it still persists worldwide. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the countries with the highest prevalence of child marriage in the world. Nowadays, in the DRC, about 2.6 million girls marry before turning 15 and 8 million girls marry by age 18 which represent, respectively, 8% of and 29 % of the women’s population. This is a national average, because child marriage in the DRC is more present in certain regions, namely poorer and rural areas, especially when conflict and displacements impacts them. With 60% of the female population marrying before 18, Tanganyika is the province with the highest child marriage rate, while Kinshasa is the lowest, with an incidence of just above 18%.

The legal minimum age to marry in the DRC is 18 years old, but this does not necessarily mean that the law can be enforced everywhere, especially in areas where customary traditions usually prevail over state legislation. Men can also engage in child marriage, but to a lesser extent than women. Only 6% of men in the DRC marry by the age of 18. Child marriage can bring catastrophic consequences on women’s health, education and employment status, often increasing teenagers’ pregnancy and drastically limiting women’s economic empowerment.

Causes of Child Marriage in the DRC

There are multiple reasons why child marriage still persists in the DRC and ultimately, aspects such as education and economic background of families, as well as influence of local traditions play a role.

The first obvious consideration is the wealth factor: the poorer the girl, the sooner she will marry. In many circumstances when a family cannot provide for their daughter, they will send her away in marriage at the earliest opportunity. This fact is particularly emphasized in areas with high internal displacement rates, usually among the poorest in the country. Another factor to consider is the education status of individuals, the more educated the girls and the more likely they are exposed to informational media, the later they would marry. Even more importantly, child marriage is often a consequence of lack of reproductive rights and knowledge of safe sexual practices.

Often child marriage happens after an unwanted pregnancy, then the girl might be asked to marry the father of the child conceived. In some cases, people can use impromptu arranged marriage to settle a rape: often, the woman is forced to marry the man that raped her. Furthermore, it is important to consider the role of tradition and differences across religions and ethnic groups. In some areas of the country, especially rural areas where customary traditions are stronger, marrying young is more accepted, sometimes even encouraged, compared to more urbanized areas, such as in the capital Kinshasa.

Impacts of Child Marriage in the DRC

Child marriage has different and sometimes dramatic impacts on the life of individuals who engage in it. Marrying younger means higher fertility rates, including teenage pregnancies and all the associated health risks both in mothers and babies. With a ratio of 107 of every 1,000 girls aged 15-19 giving birth. The DRC has one of the highest fertility rates in adolescents in the world, as well as a very high mortality rate for infants, about 45 infant deaths every 1,000 individuals.

Marrying younger introduces another health concern, as it increases the chances of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. In addition, after marriage, most girls stop pursuing education. In the DRC, only 50% of girls complete lower secondary school education, versus 61.8% of boys, a 12 percentage point gap, much more significant than the average gap of the Sub-Saharan region, 1.8.

It has also been observed that child marriage can be devastating for girls’ wellbeing. Not only do married girls in the DRC report lower self-esteem, they also are more likely to become victims of domestic violence. This could be physical violence, emotional violence or sexual violence, often perpetrated by their husband. Ultimately, child marriages usually are more likely to end in divorce or early widowhood, compared to marriage of people over 18.

Solutions for Child Marriage in the DRC

There are different solutions to reduce child marriage rates and ultimately eliminate the problem. Since child marriage in the DRC is a consequence of underlying social and economic factors, it is indispensable to address the root causes of the problem, such as poverty, armed conflict and local traditions. The African Union, which comprises 55 countries including the DRC, supports national strategies to create a social grassroot movement that would involve health and social workers as well as community and religious leaders. The aim is addressing and influencing all those cases where tradition and socio-economic background might suggest child marriage.

Girls should have access to education and health services and, more importantly, they should have the opportunity to understand that child marriage is illegal and dangerous. Radio Ondese is a successful example of a project that tries to inform girls of their rights. Radio Ondese is a radio station that David M. Munyaga founded in 2009.

Nowadays, Radio Ondese reaches an estimated 180,000 listeners in the South Kivu region, including listeners from rural areas. This radio tries to focus on raising awareness on the consequences of child marriage. It does so by inviting local experts on girls’ rights, such as lawyers or public administrators, on on-air debates where listeners can contribute by phone call or SMS text. According to Munyaga, it is quite common for girls to call the radio station and ask for further information. Considering that most child marriages in DRC occur in rural areas where cultural norms prevail over state laws, Radio Ondese is for many girls the first time they realize that child marriage is illegal. Furthermore, Radio Ondese organizes training workshops with community leaders and creates “listeners clubs,” discussion groups of women forced into child marriage.

Looking Ahead

Child marriage remains a persistent issue in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Research has shown that it is particularly widespread in rural regions with high poverty rates and greater exposure to armed conflict. In a country where 55% of population lives in rural areas, ending child marriage can be challenging in DRC, but the right set of policies and projects could limit the cases. Considering the catastrophic consequences that child marriage has on girls, it is more important than ever to start implementing effective solutions.

– Alice Girardi

Alice is based in Paris, France and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay

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Child Marriage in the UAE: Legal Reform and Protection for Girls

Child Marriage in the UAEChild marriage has historically been a concern across parts of the Middle East, but the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken steps in recent years to strengthen protections for young people. As part of efforts to align national legislation with international child protection standards, the country’s updated Personal Status Law sets the minimum legal age of marriage at 18 years. By ensuring that marriage decisions occur when individuals are emotionally and legally mature, these reforms aim to protect girls’ education and well-being.

Modernizing Family Law

Legal reforms introduced in 2024 and implemented in 2025 expanded child-centered protections within family law as part of broader efforts to address child marriage in the UAE. The law introduced penalties for child neglect or abuse, and courts can now prioritize the best interests of children in marriage and custody decisions. The revised framework also requires courts to evaluate the welfare and maturity of any young person involved, providing an additional safeguard against coercion and early unions.

Advocacy organizations note that establishing 18 as the national standard marks progress, although earlier legal frameworks allowed judicial exceptions for marriage under 18. Increased judicial oversight requires courts to carefully assess whether a marriage serves the welfare of the young person involved, reinforcing protections against coercion or early unions.

Expanding Child Protection Systems

Alongside marriage law reform, the UAE has invested in broader child protection initiatives designed to reduce risks faced by minors. National legislation outlines protections covering education, employment restrictions and welfare systems to prevent exploitation. These frameworks aim to create safer environments where children can remain in school and develop before entering adulthood.

Supporting Girls Through Education and Awareness

Globally, education plays a key role in preventing child marriage, and the UAE has increasingly focused on awareness and social development programs. According to reports, the average age of marriage for women in the UAE has risen to about 24 years, suggesting changing social expectations and expanded opportunities for women’s education and employment. Research consistently links later marriage with higher rates of secondary education completion and greater workforce participation for women, outcomes associated with long-term reductions in poverty.

Government initiatives and partnerships with international organizations continue to promote girls’ rights and community awareness around early marriage. These efforts aim to help young women make informed life choices by encouraging continued education and economic participation.

A Positive Path Forward

Recent legal reforms highlight the UAE’s growing commitment to protecting children and promoting gender equality. Setting a clear legal age requirement, strengthening court oversight and expanding child welfare policies support efforts to reduce child marriage in the UAE and promote healthier futures for girls.

Although enforcement and social attitudes may vary, these reforms represent an institutional shift toward prevention rather than response, signaling sustained commitment to child protection. Continued cooperation between advocacy groups, legal institutions and legislators indicates that further progress remains possible. As reforms take effect, the focus increasingly shifts toward prevention, education and long-term opportunities for young people across the UAE.

– Honey Regev

Honey is based in Edinburgh, Scotland and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Ending Child Marriage in Equatorial Guinea

Child Marriage in Equatorial GuineaIn recent years, the world has come a long way in improving action and awareness for gender inequality and injustice, from fighting for equal pay to seeing more women in the political arena. However, around the world, 12 million girls marry every year before the age of 18. Child marriage in Equatorial Guinea has flown under the radar in comparison to other central and west African countries, yet 30% of the female population are married before they turn 18, and a further 9% before they are 15, which translates to approximately 228,000 young girls being forced into underage marriages. This is all despite the country’s decades of work to eradicate the practice, which begs the question, why are these policies and frameworks not working?

What Does Child Marriage in Equatorial Guinea Look Like?

Since 1992, Equatorial Guinea’s government has committed itself to ending child marriage, acceding to policies such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and  Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), to ensure states’ eradication of non-consensual marriages, and the enforcement of the legal age for consent. Unfortunately, the country has struggled with enforcing these policies, due to a growing population and high rates of underage marriage in rural areas where infractions are less easily controlled.

Underage marriage is a multidimensional problem with innumerable consequences. Child marriage in Equatorial Guinea, like so many other nations, is a practice entrenched in cultural history, but also born from economic instability and thus it acts as a survival mechanism, shifting the financial burden to another family. Once married, these girls’ futures shrink, as either marital responsibilities or pregnancy impede education because pregnant girls cannot attend school by Equatorial Guinea’s law. The issue only expands from here, as without an education, a girl’s independent economic opportunities diminish, and young pregnancies often result in medical traumas or death.

Why Does the Problem Still Exist?

Although Equatorial Guinea has expressed a strong commitment and desire to combat this practice and enforce a legal consenting age for marriage, the problem persists, with the rate only having declined 12% from 1986 to 2026. One explanation for this is that child marriage in Equatorial Guinea functions at an ‘average’ rate, and as such there is a lack of data on the practice, owing to its undistinctive record. One could view this as cause for relief, however, an average score of approximately 40% of the population is not as small a number as it may seem.

UNICEF’s and the UNFPA’s Study

UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) conducted a study in which they compared and ranked the percentage of girls married before 15 and 18 in West and Central Africa, and found that Equatorial Guinea landed on the low end of the spectrum, but this does not take into account the size of the country’s population, nor the disparity between rates of underage marriage in urban and rural parts of the country. Concerning the latter, rural areas are harder to police due to their higher levels of poverty and consequently, greater disconnection from urban society. Poverty is not simply a lack of financial wealth or work, but poor infrastructure, education and food, all of which often create a sense of isolation. As such, marrying daughters at a young age alleviates the economic drain on a poorer family.

In turn, UNICEF’s study illuminated the former factor; according to UNICEF and UNFPA, “Despite the gradual decrease in prevalence in the region, however, the number of child brides is projected to grow given the growing population in the region. Projections show that […] Even if decline rates are doubled, the region will still have 14.8 million child brides by 2050.” In brief, without a decline in the population, there can be no stable and significant decline in child-brides.

Solutions

The situation is not hopeless, however. As of 2022, the country has taken real action, with a partnership between the government, UNICEF and UNFPA, who together have launched campaigns against child marriage, as well as violence against women and gender based discrimination. Equatorial Guinea’s campaign ‘UNiTE!’ currently aims to increase awareness on protection for girls and women, advocate for strategies to eliminate gender based threats,  promote female leadership and mobilize stakeholders to support this mission. The government has vowed to end child marriage by 2030 with three draft bills in its pipeline including The Draft Bill Regulating Traditional Marriage in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, demonstrating a renewed dedication to finally abolishing child marriage in its country.

There are already internationally recognized activists, like Hoda Ali and Jaha Dukureh, speaking out against child marriage and related issues in sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, organizations such as Girls Not Brides and the Girls First Fund are working to raise awareness and battle against these traditions. These organizations reach across the globe to fund and fuel female-centered projects with the desire to equalize opportunities for girls and women, be it in regards to education or simply freedom from underage and nonconsensual unions. It is the hope that Equatorial Guinea’s own female voices, with the help of these global organizations, will only become louder and stronger.

– Jaya Noonan

Jaya is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Child Marriage Restraint Act, 2025: End Child Marriage in Pakistan

Child Marriage Restraint ActIn a leap toward ending child marriage in Pakistan, the Islamabad Capital Territory government passed the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 2025. This new legislation is the first legal precedent in Pakistan to illegalize child marriage and set the legal minimum for marriage to at least 18 years of age for girls. Under the previous Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929, the legal minimum age for marriage was 14 for girls, later amended to 16.

The new act also entails harsher punitive measures than the outdated law. For example, a man who marries an underage girl will now be looking at up to three years in prison. Anyone who facilitates or forces marriage onto a child can face up to seven years in prison, including marriage registrars, religious clerics or family members.

Child Marriage and Poverty

In Pakistan, 20.5 million or 18% of girls are married before they reach the age of 18. Approximately 5 million girls or 4%, are married before the age of 15. Poverty is the driving factor behind child marriage, along with gender inequality and cultural customs.

Child brides usually come from impoverished families who sell them to older men for a price as high as 2.5 million Pakistani rupees, which is more than $8,000. Child marriage tends to spike in regions prone to natural disasters, which displace families, destroy homes and overall increase poverty in the area. The lack of education and access to health facilities in some parts of Pakistan further reinforces the tradition of child marriage.

Although the updated Child Marriage Restraint Act of 2025 is a significant step toward ending child marriage, the law does not address the other factors contributing to the issue. However, below are three organizations raising awareness of the dangers of child marriage in Pakistan by educating the public.

UN Women

In 2024, U.N. Women partnered with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to organize informational sessions across rural villages in Pakistan. These sessions showed parents the negative consequences of marriage for an underage girl, including health risks and limited access to education. They also sparked dialogue on women’s rights, inclusion in the agricultural industry and involvement in decision-making.

The awareness-raising program reached 1,732 people living in rural villages, as more families allowed their daughters to attend their local schools rather than keep them at home. One woman, Yasmin Gul and her husband attended an information session on child marriage in Pakistan’s Mohmand. Gul married young herself and married off two of her daughters when they were 14 and 15.

After the session, Gul and her husband decided against marrying off their youngest daughter until she is at least 18 years old. Until then, she would be allowed to grow and pursue an education — opportunities her older sisters never had. U.N. Women also launched a campaign where it hand-delivered wedding cards for a fictitious child marriage to Pakistani lawmakers and leaders, each card designed entirely by children.

The invitations displayed colourful artwork illustrated with crayons and markers. Some even included time for “games” in the itinerary. The children in the campaign were between 5 and 15 years old and one was an actual child bride. The invitations caught nationwide media coverage and inspired discussion across Pakistan.

The campaign also had a significant legislative impact, as lawmakers brought the wedding cards to parliamentary meetings to underscore the severity of the issue.

Pathfinder International

With a slightly similar approach, Pathfinder International launched the “End Early Child Marriage” campaign in partnership with the BPG advertising agency. The organization published an invitation to a fictitious wedding between a 13-year-old girl and a 56-year-old man across several media outlets in Pakistan, in English, Sindhi and Urdu. The goal was to reach a diverse audience covering varying demographics.

At the bottom of the card, it says, “This is not an actual event, but a metaphorical stand against the injustice of child marriage. Child marriage is synonymous with the premature ending of a child’s future.” The wedding invitation was published in two newspapers: The Express Tribune, with more than 25,000 readers and the Daily Express, with more than 350,000 readers.

The Express Tribune also shared the campaign on its YouTube podcast, which gained more than 100,000 views. The campaign circulated across popular radio stations, such as CityFM89 and FM100 Karachi, which garnered more than 1.5 million listeners. Express News TV also broadcast the campaign on-air, reaching more than 10 million viewers.

UNICEF Pakistan

UNICEF Pakistan launched its National Gender Strategy for 2024 to 2027. This involves a strategy to address gender inequalities and overall improve girls’ lives, especially when it comes to child marriage in Pakistan. The strategy entails investing in girls’ leadership, voice and agency.

It addresses traditional cultural attitudes perpetuating gender inequality as well as plans to work with leaders, religious figures, boys and men to change harmful beliefs. The strategy also outlines providing girls with greater accountability, social protection and reliable services in education, health care and nutrition.

In Pakistan, 54% of girls become pregnant before turning 18, 88% of girls between 10 and 17 live in poverty and 46% of girls have no education, employment or training. Pregnancy in underage girls poses a range of life-threatening health risks for both the mother and the baby. When paired with poverty and a lack of education or training, this also becomes detrimental to Pakistan’s progress as a country, highlighting the need for UNICEF’s strategy in Pakistan.

Ending Child Marriage For Good

Lawmakers and leaders establishing new legislation to restrict child marriage is a powerful stride. However, child marriage in Pakistan will not end for good until the government addresses the push behind it: poverty, inadequate facilities and a lack of education. Organizations must continue to focus on empowering girls and enabling a brighter future for Pakistan.

– Umaymah Suhail

Umaymah is based in Karachi, Pakistan and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Addressing Child Marriage in Argentina

Child Marriage in ArgentinaChild marriage is an example of the gender inequalities that girls and women face, which prominently exists in countries of extreme poverty. It is an issue that harms the lives of girls in Argentina as there can be an increased risk of adolescent pregnancies in addition to reduced access to education.

In Argentina, the gender pay gap is leading more girls and women to poverty. UN Women states that “Women and girls aged 15+ spend 23.4% of their time on unpaid care and domestic work, compared to 9.2% spent by men.” The power dynamics girls face regularly put them in a position where they do not have the resources to withstand poverty, therefore, leading them to child marriage in Argentina.

Leading Factors for Child Marriage

Girls Not Brides has stated that “16% of girls in Argentina marry or enter a union before age 18, and 2% marry before age 15.” The percentage of girls getting married as adolescents is proof of the scary reality that women and girls have to live through every day.

The law in Argentina works to prevent marriage before 18, however, parents and guardians have the right to enforce marriage at 16. This power dynamic is another social norm which influences gender inequalities to prevail. Other factors that result in child marriage include getting pregnant at a young age, which socially isolates young girls from their families and education. Girls also may feel compelled to stay in a union if it is their only support.

Improvements to Child Marriage in Argentina

Thankfully, there is a plan to eradicate child marriage in Argentina by 2030. Argentina is actively co-sponsoring legislation to prevent child marriage. It also aims to prevent violence, which enforces gender-based inequality and leads to issues such as child marriage. Significantly, the government will be prioritizing services to support those involved in child marriage.

People all over the world have been actively helping to stop child marriage in Latin America as well. This includes organizations such as Girls Not Brides. It has given a voice to girls and women who feel like they cannot speak freely.

In Argentina specifically, Girls Not Brides is improving the lives of young girls by utilizing The Foundation for Studies and Research on Women (FEIM). It researches and advocates against the issue of child marriage in Argentina, while training people to provide education on child marriage.

Meanwhile, SOS Children’s Villages has actively been working to stop adolescents from falling into the trap of entering marriage before 18. This organization creates a living environment for children to grow up in, providing them with education and support in their childhood and helping them move into the future independently. So far, “SOS Children’s Villages supports 1,270 adults and children, 1,610 attend their school and further training, 150 children grow up in their care and 840 are supported on their way to independence.” These factors all play a part in preventing child labor and marriage, and increasing quality of life.

Looking Ahead

While the injustice many young girls in Argentina face is immense, Argentina’s government and various organizations have actively worked toward protecting the rights of girls and improving the quality of life for girls in the country. Hopefully, with continued action, child marriage in Argentina will completely disappear.

– Freya Bryers

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

Photo: Flickr

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Child Marriage in Haiti: How Poverty Drives Child Marriage

Child Marriage in HaitiPoverty, gender inequality and insecurity largely drive the ongoing issue of child marriage in Haiti. Haitians face widespread poverty, food insecurity, gang violence and limited access to public services, leaving families with limited options to sustain themselves. This prompts many to marry off their children as a survival strategy. International aid and targeted poverty‑reduction programs work to address the root causes of child marriage in Haiti.

The Prevalence of Child Marriage in Haiti

In Haiti, 15% of girls marry or enter a union before the age of 18 and 2% before 15. For boys, 2% marry before 18. Three main factors drive child marriage: gender inequality, poverty and insecurity. Ongoing security issues such as gang violence, natural disasters and poor economic conditions push families to marry off their children, mainly daughters, as a form of survival and protection. Poverty, political unrest and natural disasters limit access to education and economic opportunities, leaving approximately one million children out of school in 2023 and families with few options for stability. Despite Haiti’s international commitments through Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end child marriage by 2030, the country lacks a national strategy or a minimum legal marriage age without exceptions. Children 15 and younger marry with parental or presidential consent.

Driving Factors: Poverty and Gender Inequality

The age of consent in Haiti is 15 for both genders. Girls may legally marry at 15, and boys at 18. The president may approve marriages under these ages for ‘serious reasons.’ Additionally, if a girl under 14 conceives or either party reaches 18 within 6 months of marriage, the union cannot be annulled.

Widespread poverty and harmful norms contribute to high rates of violence and early marriage. Deeply rooted beliefs about family roles contribute to in-home violence with 73.8% of young women and 69.4% of young men justifying domestic violence. Nearly half of married adolescents aged 15–19 experienced physical, sexual or emotional abuse. A 2012 UNICEF report on Haitian poverty levels found that 58% of adolescents lived in poverty, and currently, more than half the population remains below the poverty line. High rates of violence in child marriages make divorce difficult, trapping many in abusive relationships.

Driving Factors: Gang Violence and Food Insecurity

Gang violence, hunger and poverty create urgent risks for children, including early marriage, sexual exploitation and school dropout. A needs assessment found that nearly half the population facing crisis levels of hunger. Food insecurity and economic hardship are driving parents to resort to child marriages. Low school attendance leaves children exposed to recruitment by armed gangs; estimates suggest that 30–50% of gang members are underage.

Plan International is an organization that is working to protect children from these risks. It provides psychosocial support, child-friendly spaces, nutrition programs, cash transfers and health services. Since July 2022, the organization has scaled up humanitarian assistance in Artibonite and the Northeast Department to identify and support children in need of psychosocial support, particularly unaccompanied or separated children, forcibly displaced children and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. Plan International has set up child-friendly spaces, provided sociocultural activities such as theatre programs, and increased access to health services.

Plan International has supported more than 25,000 people with cash transfers, enabling them to buy food, pay school fees and meet other urgent needs. These practices aim to protect children from violence and exploitation. Addressing both hunger and insecurity is critical to preventing child marriage and safeguarding the futures of Haiti’s children. Compounded initiatives like this are helpful in reducing child marriage rates in Haiti.

UNICEF’s Initiatives Targeting Root Causes of Child Marriage in Haiti

UNICEF addresses poverty, violence and instability to prevent child marriage in Haiti. The organization expands nutrition services, including treatment for acute malnutrition, micronutrient supplementation, deworming and immunizations, reducing the hunger and malnutrition that push families to marry off their children. UNICEF delivers vaccines and therapeutic food, and ensures access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene. It also strengthens communities and helps lower the risk of disease outbreaks that disrupt education and livelihoods.

The agency promotes safe learning environments by distributing school kits, rebuilding damaged schools and advocating against attacks on education. A nationwide cash transfer initiative helps families enroll children in school and ensures teachers are prepared for the school year. UNICEF also provides psychosocial support and protection services to children experiencing violence, including victims of gender-based violence, unaccompanied and separated children and children associated with armed groups. The organization supports disaster recovery and preparedness, rebuilding water systems and schools and providing cash transfers to vulnerable families. These interventions reduce the economic and social pressures that drive child marriage and help protect every child’s right to a safe and healthy future.

Safeguarding Rights and Futures

Child marriage in Haiti is closely linked to poverty, insecurity and entrenched gender inequality, leaving children particularly vulnerable to marriage, violence and exploitation. Addressing these challenges through education, health care, nutrition and protection programs alongside broader efforts to reduce poverty and instability is essential to safeguarding children’s rights and preventing child marriage in the long term.

– Mollie Skogen

Mollie is based in London, UK and focuses on Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Abolishing Child Marriage in the Philippines

Child Marriage in the PhilippinesOn Dec. 10, 2021, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Prohibition of Child Marriage Law (Republic Act no. 11596), which prohibited marrying a child under the age of 18, to end the abuse and trauma of adolescent Filipinas. However, child marriage in the Philippines still persists today.

The Prohibition of Child Marriage Law

Prior to the Philippines’ enactment of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Law on Jan. 6, 2022, child marriage was a common practice in the Philippines. This placed young girls in danger of sexual violence and childbirth. According to a 2017 report by the Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey, one out of six Filipinas under the age of 18 were married.

In 2017, the recorded rate of child marriages in the Philippines was more than 16%. Since the Prohibition of Child Marriage Law, the rate had gone down to 9.4% in 2022. While there has been a substantial decrease, child marriage has not been completely eradicated.

The Issue

While the Philippines has raised the legal age of consent to 18 years old, some in the country continue to justify the marriage of children in a religious or cultural context. Despite the Prohibition of Child Marriage Law, there exists an exception to it: Presidential Decree No. 1083. The Code of Muslim Personal Laws, which President Ferdinand Marcos enacted, allows for the marriage of girls as young as 15 to marry. 

This is especially prevalent in the large Muslim population of Mindanao. A 2021 study that the Bangsamoro Women Commission conducted recorded around 88,600 child brides in the local region. Other highly affected areas are Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Why Is It Happening?

  • Patriarchal norms within Filipino households are common. They result in the limiting of women’s autonomy as society teaches them to be wives and obedient to their husbands.
  • Weak law enforcement in the Philippines results in the failure to impose the Prohibition of Child Marriage Law. Additionally, issues are resolved in an inconsistent and informal manner. 
  • Religious and cultural traditions, specifically Islamic teachings, believe that premarital relationships outside of marriage are haram acts, resulting in followers adhering to religious standards, like forced marriages, to maintain family honor. Some argue that a female is prepared to be wed once she has reached puberty, which results in many child brides being around 15 years of age.
  • The legal age of consent is 16 years old while the legal age to be wed is 18 years old in the Philippines. This may result in teen pregnancy which then leads to parents forcing marriage upon the child to avoid the social stigma of premarital relationships.
  • Economic hardships can cause families to force their child into a marriage as they believe it to be their only escape to a better life. Mindanao has the highest population of child brides and is also the poorest region in the Philippines.

The allowance of early or forced marriage at such a young age makes the child more susceptible to experiencing poverty, domestic violence, maternal mortality and a multitude of adverse effects on emotional and physical health.

Enhancing the Protection of Children Against Early Marriage

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) presented a Child Protection Systems Strengthening (CPSS) framework to combat child marriage in 2024, which will apply to Muslim Mindanao.

The DWSD has been in charge of enforcing the Prohibition of Child Marriage Law since its implementation and provides services and resources to support and address the prevention of child marriages. The DWSD and CWC have collaborated with the intention of hindering child marriages and shifting cultural norms and attitudes in the Philippines. They have held workshops comprising not only parents and children but also community leaders to gather input in creating a CPSS to end marriages under 18 years old. CPSS will work to improve the implementation and enforcement of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Law by adopting more laws and policies such as government offices, a child-protection workforce.

Those in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will offer their input through their involvement in these workshops as they assist in designing, testing and evaluating a CPSS. The presence of individuals who have first-hand knowledge of child marriage in the Philippines is paramount in developing a solution towards it.

Involving community leaders to learn about what they can do to protect children from early marriage is a key to ending it. Becoming aware of identifying, recognizing and preventing the abuse of children through the education of child protection laws and gender-based violence will supply leaders with the ability to provide children the support they need.

Looking Ahead

In the fight against child marriage in the Philippines, the Prohibition of Child Marriage Law served to protect young Filipina girls from the patriarchal gender inequality that attempts to control women. But further work is needed to prevent the suffering of young girls in the Philippines forced into early marriage. They endure a lifetime of poverty, abuse and violence at the hands of a patriarchal system and harmful longtime traditions. 

By recognizing the detrimental behaviors and effects pertaining to child marriage with access to resources, young Filipinas will have the independence that they deserve.

– Caydie Tampac

Caydie is based in Reno, NV, USA and focuses on Good News and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Breaking the Cycle: Ending Child Marriage in Costa Rica

Child Marriage in Costa RicaUntil recently, Costa Rica had one of the highest child marriage rates in Latin America, affecting more than 359,000 girls nationwide. About one in six young women married before turning 18. Poverty, social inequality and cultural norms that limited girls’ autonomy often drove these early unions. In the past few years, child marriage in Costa Rica has made remarkable progress. Through legal reforms, education initiatives and social programs, the country steadily moves toward eradicating child marriage altogether.

Poverty and the Roots of Child Marriage

Understanding why child marriage in Costa Rica persisted for so long requires examining the social and economic forces behind it. Poverty and gender inequality long shaped these early unions. While Costa Rica remains one of the least poor countries in Latin America, poverty rates fluctuated in recent years with national poverty rising from 20% in 2017 to 21.1% in 2018, pushing more than 23,000 households into poverty and more than 12,000 into extreme poverty. In rural and less-affluent parts of Costa Rica, families more often marry off girls at a young age – a pattern that aligns with broader regional trends.

Families withdrew many girls from school: around 70% of married girls aged 15–17 left education entirely, according to UNICEF. These girls often had little say in household decisions, and some believed that wife-beating was justified. Early marriage not only robbed girls of their childhoods but also entrenched cycles of poverty for future generations.

In some Indigenous communities, families consider girls eligible for marriage once they reach puberty. The award-winning film “Defenders of Life” tells the story of Esmeralda, a fictional Ngäbe girl representing this reality. By casting real community members and sparking national debate, the film shows how cultural norms influence early marriage—and how raising awareness can begin to change them.

Legal Reforms Bring Hope

In 2017, Costa Rica passed a law banning marriage under the age of 18 and closed loopholes that previously allowed minors to wed. The Patronato Nacional de la Infancia, UNICEF Costa Rica and local women’s rights groups championed this reform. Since then, Costa Rica sharply reduced registered child marriages. The new law also increased national awareness of children’s rights and gender equality, encouraging families to prioritize education and delay marriage.

Education and Empowerment

Legislation alone cannot end child marriage in Costa Rica. UNICEF Costa Rica and the Ministry of Public Education launched initiatives to keep girls in school and encourage adolescent girls to study science, mathematics and technology. UNICEF partners with civil society and private-sector organizations to amplify the voices of adolescent girls and young women. These programs empower girls to become leaders and changemakers, giving them the skills and platforms to advocate for initiatives that address key issues affecting children, youth and adolescents. By strengthening girls’ confidence and agency, these efforts tackle the root causes of child marriage and help girls shape their own futures.

Persistent Challenges

Despite significant progress, teenage girls still enter informal unions with older men, particularly in rural and Indigenous communities where poverty and cultural traditions remain strong. This includes communities such as the Ngäbe, where families consider girls eligible for marriage once they reach puberty. Persistent child marriage contributes to high teenage pregnancy rates: 16% of all births occur among girls under 18, rising to 27% in rural areas. Costa Rica must strengthen enforcement of existing laws and expand outreach to isolated communities to eliminate the practice completely.

A Model for the Region

Costa Rica’s efforts over the past few years demonstrate that determined action can drive real change and position the country as a model for the region. By combining legal reforms with initiatives that address the root causes of child marriage in Costa Rica – such as improving access to education and strengthening girls’ advocacy skills – the country is beginning to break persistent cycles of poverty and gender inequality. Continued collaboration between the government, NGOs and international partners will sustain this progress. Since 2015, UNAIDS, UN Women, UNICEF and other organizations have worked in a joint initiative to eliminate child marriage, reinforcing government efforts and laying the foundation for a future in which every girl’s rights and opportunities are fully protected. Costa Rica’s success offers a roadmap for neighboring countries facing similar challenges.

“Child marriage and early unions are a violation of human rights. Full Stop,” said Laura Flores, the Permanent Representative of Panama to the United Nations.

– Iona Gethin

Iona is based in Exeter, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr