2. Child Marriage
What is Child Marriage?
Child marriage is defined as a formal
marriage or informal union before the age
of 18.
Child marriage “a fundamental threat to
human rights”
“Marriage shall be entered into only with
the free and full consent of the intending
spouses” (Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, 1948)
3. Child Brides In Yemen:
Child marriages are scandalously common
in Yemen.
According to Human Rights Watch figures
from 2006, 14% of girls are married by the
time they are 15, and more than 50% before
the age of 18.
4. Causes of Child Marriage:
Cultural and religious beliefs
Poverty
Lack of awareness of the dangers
associated with early marriage
5. Effects of Child marriage:
Premature pregnancy
Maternal Mortality
Infant Mortality
Health Problems
Illiteracy
Poverty
Abuse and Violence
Mental Health
Isolation and Abandonment
6. International initiatives to prevent
child marriage in the world
USAID-several new initiatives to prevent child
marriage and promote girls’ education
worldwide.
UN-Every Woman Every Child initiative.
7. International initiatives to prevent
child marriage in Yemen
Save the Children
The Yemeni Women’s Union (YWU)
Media advocacy
Independent Yemen Group
8. Challenges faced in Combatting Child
Marriage?
Poverty
Ineffective government
Social unrest
Economic uncertainty
Traditions
9. The Future Effects
Yemen should protect its girls from the
devastating effects of early marriage.
Members of the Rights and Freedoms
Committee in the country’s National Dialogue
Conference should recommend prohibiting
child marriage.
The Friends of Yemen, should consider
increasing support for programs that boost girls’
and women’s access to education.
10. The solution and recommendations.
How can we end child marriage?
Educating and empowering girls
Supporting young people to become activists for
change
Mobilising and educating communities
Bringing men and traditional leaders on board
Raising awareness in the media
11. Recommendations:
It is up to female activists and policy makers to push for
changes.
A new constitution should be drafted, to set the minimum
marriage age while outlining punishments for violators.
The new government has to earn credibility otherwise the
law will not be adhered to.
Yemeni women need to learn about their rights to vote
and their capacity to change their own futures.
While we wait for these changes to take place, women
can defend themselves within the Shari’a framework.
