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Redefining early marriage by empowering girls for brighter future has been the clarion call of the enlightened people across various social sphere over the years.
Although the argument for and against early marriages for girls lingers, we can no longer deny the fact that civilisation is gradually catching up with the grips of culture when it comes to the subject matter.
Suffice it to say that early child marriages are becoming unfashionable.
If early marriage is such a good thing, it should have had a tremendous positive impact on the society.
Sweet Sixteen shouldn’t be a baby-producing age for our girls. Let the potential of our girls flourish.
Early marriage is a forced union for mostly young ladies between the ages of eleven and seventeen or even early eighteen, usually against their will.
In the Northern part of Nigeria, a typically girl-child early marriage is generally accepted and seen as a common practice in some cultures across the world.
In most of these cultures, the strength of the belief is hinged on their traditional allegiance, which affirms early marriage as a legal form of marriage.
There are so many questions that readily come to mind each time the touchy topic of early marriage, as follows:
Does it not violate the human rights of these girls?
Does such practice not violate their fundamental human rights to education?
Does such practice not endanger the health of these girls?
What about the unintended consequences of forcing these girls into early marriages?
Due to several causes of ill-treatment and its diverse detrimental features on the accidental victims, attention began to rise, be it medically, morally, and even beyond social factors.
The world is changing and flourishing, and the emerging civilization now makes the practice of early girl marriage controversial across the globe.
It appears like the patronage that early child marriage enjoyed in the past is now confined to the past.
The world research statistic showed that approximately 12 million girls under the age of 18 are married each year, with the girls of 12 or 13 being forced into unions against their will and admiration.
Early marriage practice not only disrupts girls’ education and limits their opportunities but also perpetuates gender inequality, which disregards fundamental human rights.
Where has humanity been? Where is Lady Justice? Why hasn’t the law severely frowned on such a practice? What have our political representatives done to address the issue?
Girls should not be denied the right to advance their dream ambition.
Marriage is an activity that can be quit in the blink of an eye. Don’t risk choosing a partner over your future. Who knows tomorrow?
Indeed, girls’ education at the ages of 14 to 18 should be a priority.
They are more than just young wives; they are individuals with potential who should be allowed to engage in full-time studies to explore their talents and abilities.
The perception that they are only valuable as wives and mothers limits their potential and blows away their expertise in several ways.
Consensus On Health Risks
The dangers of early marriage cause serious health threats, especially for girls who become pregnant before their bodies are fully ready to carry a baby.
International agencies have briefly summarised the problems as follows:
Maternal Mortality
Girls aged 15-19 are likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as women in their 20s.
This is primarily related to their underdeveloped bodies and limited access to standard healthcare.
Pregnancy-Related Morbidity
Pregnancy-related illnesses such as eclampsia, uncontrolled blood pressure, and anemia are also more common among young girls, leading to lifelong health problems.
Infant Mortality
Infants born by mothers under the age of 18 are more likely to be delivered prematurely or with a low birth weight, which can lead to extreme health problems and possibly death.
Globally, early marriage is a life-threatening practice that must be squarely addressed or stopped.
The problem of early marriage is not limited to the developing world. In some developed countries, early marriage exposed its dark side, as follows:
United States
In the United States of America, there are no laws against child marriage, and nearly 200,000 underage were married between 2000/ 2015, with the majority being girls.
Canada
Despite efforts to end child marriage, it is still legal with parental consent or a court order, and many underage girls are forced into marriages.
Bangladesh
50% of girls are married before the age of 18, making it one of the highest rates of early marriage in the world.
Mali
In Mali, two-thirds of girls are married before age 18, with many being married before age 15.
Early marriage is not only a problem in developing and developed countries but also in war-affected regions, where displacement, poverty, and cultural norms can make girls more vulnerable to forced marriages.
Syria
The conflict in Syria increased by early marriage, with girls as young as 12 being forced into marriages to protect them from sexual violence or harassment and provide security for their families.
Early marriage is also a problem in several African countries, where traditional beliefs and practices often support the practice.
Some of the countries with high rates of early marriage in Africa include:
Chad
In Chad, over 70% of girls are married before the age of 18, with many being forced into marriages arranged by their families.
Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, nearly 50% of girls are married before 18.
If girls are forced to drop out of school, who are our next set of midwives? Who will take over from Zainab Alkali, the most admirable Fatima Ishaq, Chimamanda Ngozi, or Queen Amina of Zazzau, who supported the freedom fight?
These reductive outlooks on women and the roles they can contribute lower their ability to contribute substantively to society, thereby undermining their ability to pursue fulfilling lives.
Human Rights Watch is outspoken about the effect of early marriage, which, according to their perspective, early marriage violets girls’ right to health, education, and gender inequality.
There’s a need for cultural/norms amendment to attain a brighter position, which means casting away illogical beliefs and practices.
This should be the 21st century of change, where the world and all the affected traditions embrace change. I strongly support the international agencies and human rights activists working to combat early marriage and secure a bright future for young women worldwide.
Girls should be allowed to participate actively in all affairs, regardless of the sector.
Their potential can aid in sheltering alternatives that would change the narratives of multiple problems.
This is visually sensed in most parts of the world, where women are allowed to engage in decision-making processes.
Allowing women in political activities would swiftly react to trounce tribulations.
