Child Marriage: A Global Concern

Abstract

Globally, child marriage has been occurring within various cultures for thousands of years. Unfortunately, in the 21st century this custom causes detrimental effects to the girls and young women that are forced into marriage at a young age. Although there has been greater awareness of this issue in recent years, for millions of girls this is still the reality they face daily. Specifically, child marriage affects girls and young women’s right to education, health, consent and family planning. Furthermore, the steps necessary in order to rid the world of this issue require delicate negotiations across cultural borders. This article details the human rights violations caused by child marriage and explores the possible solutions to this grim issue.