Marriage of minors, a problem during war

Marriage of minors, a problem during war
Um Fadi – Tafas

The issue of early marriage for girls is considered one of the biggest challenges that hinder development efforts and violate legitimate human rights, especially the rights of girls, including the right to education, the right to develop capabilities, the right to conscious choice in life partners, and the right to ensure equality in marriage and the building of healthy family relationships.

Early marriage is an adventure undertaken by many individuals in various countries and societies, each with different prevalence rates. This variation is attributed to customs, traditions, and practices of these countries. In some countries, early marriage is widespread, while in others, it is rare and considered an exceptional experience.

Early marriage has become widespread in our time, prompting numerous human rights organizations and civil society organizations to emphasize the need to prevent this violation against young girls, who are married off early, starting as young as thirteen, which is considered within the age of childhood.

Men rarely marry at an early age, but the greater prevalence, negative impact, and harm fall on girls who are forced into marriage without their consent. Since making that decision, they bear the responsibility of the household, husband, and children at an age when they should be focusing solely on their studies.

Early marriage affects both genders, as they often lose opportunities for education and skill development. However, girls are more affected due to the separation from their parents and family, in addition to the significant responsibility placed on them to support and care for a family and children. Nevertheless, many girls who have experienced early marriage work on improving their situation and focus on positive aspects suitable for the country they live in.

Early marriage can also have health effects on girls, exposing them to risks such as an unprepared body for pregnancy and childbirth. This can endanger their lives, especially when girls at this age lack knowledge of parenting and responsibility. At the same time, they do not find suitable support for their personal and daily lives.

The social repercussions of early marriage are numerous, including early divorce, the spread of domestic violence due to lack of awareness, and a decline in education levels due to school dropout, leading to the spread of poverty and its impact on poor economic conditions and increased responsibility.

In most cases, the root cause of early marriage is the lack of awareness and ignorance among parents, coupled with low material living standards and economic hardship. This leads parents to be unable to meet the needs of their daughters and spend on them, pushing them towards early marriage to alleviate these burdens. However, in doing so, they unknowingly contribute to producing new victims who suffer from hunger and poverty.

Every country has specific laws regarding early marriage, with most setting the legal age for girls at 18. However, there are often laxities in enforcement. Therefore, it is essential to disseminate awareness campaigns by visiting schools, women’s gatherings, and places where women are present, as well as visiting families in their homes and educating them about this issue.