causes of child marriage in nigeria

They have to stop going to school and miss out on their chance of an education. The 10 countries with the highest rates of child marriage are: Niger, 75%; Chad and Central African Republic, 68%; Bangladesh, 66%; Guinea, 63%; Mozambique, 56%; Mali, 55%; Burkina Faso and South Sudan, 52%; and Malawi, 50%. I recently visited Niger, where up to 98% of the population is Muslim. Families closely guard their daughters’ sexuality and virginity in order to protect the family honour. Despite laws against it, the practice remains widespread: Globally, one in every five girls is married, or in union, before reaching age 18. Marriage Procedures for Americans Wanting to Marry in Niger The following information is to assist American citizens contemplating marriage in Niger. Bride prices help pay for food that has been scarce in recent years due to drought and other climate shock in the Sahel region. Nigeria is the third country worldwide for absolute number of child brides (United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)). But every year, 15 million girls are locked away from a better life. Child marriage is also driven by patriarchal values and the desire to control female sexuality, for instance, how a girl should behave, how she should dress, who she should be allowed to see, to marry, etc. “As a father you have to do what is best for your family. In one of Plan International’s most watched child marriage stories, see how cultural and financial factors played a role in her mother’s decision to accept a dowry for her marriage and how Plan International works at multiple levels to educate communities about the consequences of child marriage. Child marriage as a concept can be defined as the formal or an informal union between two individuals before attaining the age of eighteen years. This in turns reduces the ability of households to meet their basic needs, and thereby contributes to poverty. Child marriage, according to international standards, is any form of union or marriage involving a party or parties below the age of 18. Marriage before the age of 18 is a fundamental violation of human rights. In Dosso, Niger, 13-year-old Mariama discovered that she was to be married in a few days’ time. In many cases, they fall pregnant while they are still children themselves, increasing risks during birth. Child marriage in Niger occurs primarily for economic reasons: the family no longer has to feed the girl once they sell her off to her husband and the dowry they receive from selling her will help the family cope with hunger and poverty. Fatima’s marriage is prohibited under Nigeria’s Child Rights Act (CRA), which bans marriage before the age of 18. Many girls who are married off before they turn 18 or are forced into early marriages are made to leave school, depriving them of … Browse Child marriage news, research and analysis from The Conversation Menu Close ... All 36 states in Nigeria must adopt the Child Rights Act to safeguard their children. Child labor in Nigeria is an evil that ruins Nigerian children’s health, intellectual development, and all chances of becoming educated. What is Child Marriage, its Concepts and Causes of Child Marriage. You are all always in my mind. CHAPTER 3: ACTS OF CHILD MARRIAGEIMP 39. This report examines the causes of child marriage in Bangladesh and how to prevent it. Empowerment programs for young girls are key to preventing early marriages by improving their self-efficacy. Child marriage is a human rights violation. Children suffer from various forms of abuse such as child marriages, molestation, child labour, kidnapping, and neglect, among other forms. PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Throughout the world, marriage is regarded as a moment of celebration and a milestone in adult life. As much as anyone does not consider this to be one of the reasons to eradicate poverty it is. Conclusions regarding underlying factors and correlations are further to be found and presented in the text. Child marriage causes untold suffering to the victims; it curtails the child’s education, affects the general health, and puts the affected in a disadvantaged position. Many laws and policies were put into place with the purpose of protecting children from abuse. Furthermore, we make a few recommendations, which policy planners may adopt in reducing children’s dropout from schools. Developing relational alliances amid families for other business or financial upholds. Economic or financial inability of the family. Summary: In this article, we examine the causes of increasing dropout rate of children (both boys and girls) in Nigeria. This institution should be seen as an abuse of human rights since this is one form of a forced marriage. A child who is supposed to have a future and add to the growth of the economy of its country is forced into a marriage at a young age. In a study on the causes of child marriage in Kenya and Zambia, Steinhaus et al. or perpetuate child marriage 26 2.2.3 Poverty 29 2.2.4 Lack of access to education 32 2.2.5 Legal frameworks 34 2.2.6 Inadequacy of registration procedures 36 2.2.7 Armed conflict and sexual violence 38. (2016) identified lack of educational opportunities as one of the direct causes of child marriage. Its causes are multiple and overlapping and its effects are lifelong for the victims and their communities. Child marriage has indeed caused more harm than good as it has stripped many young girls of their childhood, their dreams, their basic human rights and their health, however if we can follow these recommended steps, then, we can be able to eradicate child marriage in Nigeria. These consequences impact not just the girl directly, but also her family and community. A total of 28 per cent of all girls are married before the age of 15. The term ‘custody’ itself is not defined in the Matrimonial Causes Act. The ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda serves to create progress that will improve lives across the world. 1 Child marriage is standing in the way of progress towards many of the 2030 Global Goals. Nigeria has one of the highest child marriage prevalence rates in the world. Child marriage is the formal (or informal) marriage of a child under the age of 18 — most often the marriage of a young girl to an older boy or man. Since its inception in 1995, the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, known as MICS, has become the largest source of statistically sound and internationally comparable data on women and children worldwide. Child marriage is a widespread practice in sub-Saharan Africa which leads to violation of human rights. Many factors interact to place a child at risk of marriage, including poverty, the perception that marriage will provide ‘protection’, family honor, social norms, customary or religious laws that condone the practice, an inadequate legislative framework and the state of a country’s civil registration system. A web-documentary by Dirk Gilson The young bride Fifteen-year-old Hamsatou holds up a photo of herself on her wedding day. With 1,193,000 women married before the age of 18. Gender Inequalities in the society. EARLY MARRIAGE IN NIGERIA: CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES, AND SOLUTIONS DEDICATION Mr. and Mrs J. R. Akpan, the only parents I can pray and wish for and to my kid brother Anthony (Jnr.,) and nephew BoBo. Child marriage ends childhood. The West African country of Niger has the highest rate of child marriage in the world. There is pressure for girls to get married when parents cannot afford to pay for their daughters’ education or when the girls do not get good grades to transition to the next level. A girl who is married as a child is more likely to be out of school and not earn money and contribute to the community. It negatively influences children’s rights to education, health and protection. Say no to child marriage, as it is illegal, unfair, and against the law. Niger has the world's highest number of child marriages. Keywords: Child marriage, Niger, Chad, Social norms! Causes of Child Marriage. Child marriage is a cultural issue, but it is also a social justice issue and a national health issue in Nigeria. From this paper, culture continues to perpetuate and entrench the practice of child marriage in most communities. In 2013, about 47 percent of the women in Nigeria aged 20-24 were married in union before age 18. Child marriage in Bangladesh is widespread despite it being illegal. However, in Black’s Law Dictionary, custody of children is defined as “The care, control and maintenance of a child which may be awarded by a court to one of the parents as in a divorce or separation proceeding”. This practice, which is an affront to basic human rights for children and women alike, enjoys a status of legality with registration of marriages involving those below 18 sanctioned explicitly and given exceptions under Islamic and civil laws. 2.2 Causes of child marriage in Africa 25 2.2.1 Gender inequality 25 2.2.2 Cultural and religious norms that promote . In the least developed countries, that number doubles – 40 per cent of girls are married before age 18, and 12 per cent of girls are married before age 15. Child brides Niger has the world's highest rate of child marriages. Health issues as giving birth at an early age is harmful for the girls’ health. Sadly, as this term paper makes … This tradition jeopardises the future of the young girls forced into such marriages and endangers their health. Although marriage statutes in the United States vary from state to state a marriage performed in Niger under Nigerien law is generally recognized as valid throughout the United States. Low status of women. We need to work as a society to figure out ways to give the most vulnerable in our society a positive control over their future. Illiteracy. Child marriage leads girls to have children earlier and more children over their lifetime. In other words, this article identifies the factors that contribute to the high rate of children dropout from school in the country. Child abuse in Nigeria negatively affects the future of children and destroys the image of the country. Girls in households where boys are favored often have low self-esteem and little confidence. Out-of-school girls are a diverse group, held back by barriers related to cultural norms, poverty, early and forced marriage, teen pregnancy and other causes. But federal laws are at loggerheads with age-old customs, as well as the implementation of Sharia law or Islamic law in some Muslim states. Ending child marriage would generate large welfare benefits through a reduction in population growth, helping to usher in the demographic dividend. Custom, Traditional beliefs and social mind-set. Combating the causes of child In many countries where child marriage is widespread, girls are often seen as economic burdens. Effects of Child Marriage . 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