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ABOUT CHILD MARRIAGE

Child marriage is a harmful traditional practice that weds young people, almost exclusively girls to men who are usually significantly older than their new bride. Prevalent in many developing countries, child marriage puts girls, some as young as 7 or 8, at risk for detrimental economic, health and educational consequences. ICRW research clearly shows that child marriage hinders development efforts.

Girls who marry young are: Child Marriage

More likely to live in poverty;

More likely to die during childbirth;

More likely to experience violence at home;

Less likely to continue attending school.

There are currently some 51 million girls in the developing world who are married; and in several countries, more than half of the girls are married before they reach their 18th birthday.

The United States spends millions of dollars every year on international development assistance, money that is less effective due to the negative consequences of child marriage.

ICRW'S RESPONSE

ICRW is advocating for more U.S. involvement in curbing child marriage. Current legislation before the U.S. Senate and House of Representative would mandate that the U.S. State Department report on child marriage in its annual Country Reports on Human Rights as well as empower the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to integrate child marriage prevention into existing programs and implement pilot programs to reduce the prevalence of child marriage.

ICRW's communication team also works to raise the visibility of child marriage, both among lawmakers and in the general public through print, electronic and other media. See the recent USA Today article on child marriage.