In the nation of Georgia, 14% of girls are married before the age of 18. Mountainous regions where religious minorities exist, as well as the province of Kvemo Kartli, have especially high rates of child marriage. However, it exists all over the country.

The Reasons for Its Prevalence

Child marriage stems from a variety of social issues, one being gender inequality. In 2022, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reported that there was a 35% pay gap between men and women in Georgia. Because of this inequality, there is immense social pressure to get married in order to be financially secure. A survey conducted by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 2018 “indicated that 27% of women between the ages of 20-49 who were married before the age of 18 are in the poorest index quintile.”

Furthermore, culturally, child marriage is believed to legitimize child pregnancy and pre-marital sex. Bride kidnapping is another reason for child marriage in Georgia that is not to be overlooked. Typically, this is an arranged marriage whereby the female is kidnapped and taken to a remote location where she is forced to marry. Between January and September of 2020, there were 34 reported cases of bride kidnapping in Georgia.

Effects of Forced Marriages

Many of these forced child marriages result in domestic and sexual abuse. In 2018, one in seven women experienced domestic violence in Georgia. A particular study by the United Nations (U.N.) Women also emphasized that 9% of women have experienced sexual violence before the age of 18.

Solutions

In 2014, the Criminal Code was reformed to outlaw forced child marriage. However, there are still loopholes in the law. For instance, weddings can take place in remote areas and families may delay registering the marriage until the individuals involved are 18 years old. Nevertheless, there has been some progress in recent years. With the rise of social media, hundreds of thousands of women have united to raise awareness about domestic and sexual abuse. It has become more widely accepted to report violence and abuse because of social media and global awareness.

In 2020, Equality Now, an international women’s rights organization, published an article called “Courage: Survivors of Child Marriage Share Their Stories.” The article shared the stories of seven women who escaped child and forced marriages in Georgia. One of the women, Tami, was able to avoid a child marriage at the age of 16. She confided in her teachers and friends about the arranged marriage and they reported it to the authorities. Tami now lives independently and encourages other women to speak up for themselves. She went on to say, “If they remain silent, no one will ever know about their stories.”

Final Remark

Social awareness campaigns can help prevent child marriage in Georgia. These campaigns can educate the public about the harmful effects of child marriage. Additionally, they can challenge traditional norms and cultural beliefs that perpetuate the practice. Campaigns can also emphasize the importance of girls’ education and empowerment. By doing so, they can help reduce the prevalence of child marriage and protect the rights and well-being of girls in the country.

– Madeline Rozmus

Madeline is based in Greenwich, CT, USA and focuses on Global Health and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr