Child marriage in the 21st century: A social and legal challenge

Abstract

Marriage, which establishes the family unit that upholds society, is one of the most important social institutions. This social process is conveyed through rituals and symbols. Forty-five percent of Indian women marry before they turn 18. Niger has the highest rate of child marriages under the age of 18 in the world (74.5%), followed by the Central African Republic, Bangladesh, Guinea, Chad, and Mali (71.5, 70.6, 66.62, 63.1, and 57 percent, respectively). Most women who were married before turning 18 come from below-the-poor (BPL) and low-income homes. Nearly 80% of females encounter health problems and domestic violence, including threats, slaps, and hits. Most women who get married before they turn 18 run the risk of experiencing pregnancy-related problems, and some deaths have been reported. Girls under the age of 15 were five times more likely to die after childbirth than women in their 20s. The age group under 18 has a high fertility rate. Extreme sadness, helplessness, and hopelessness are common signs of sexual abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder among child brides.