Ending child marriage in africa human rights watch. Zewde fentaw dances during her wedding ceremony in shumshah kebele, lasta woreda unicef ethiopia 2015bindra. Child marriage briefing ethiopia population council. The practice of marriage by abduction and child marriages occur daily in various parts of ethiopia. Ethiopia s ethnic and religious diversity means child marriage assumes a wide variety of forms. The term child marriage is used to refer to both formal marriages and informal unions in which a girl or boy lives with a partner as if married before the age of 18.
Sussex child marriage and infant mortality 21062017 1 29. To address this gap, we use largescale populationbased data from evermarried women aged 1845 in niger n 2764 and ethiopia n 4149 to examine the association of child marriage with overall psychological wellbeing and its subdomains. A comprehensive treatment of the legal and policy framework of the rights of the child in ethiopia is lacking, in particular, for educational and advocacy purposes. Christian marriages, mainly in tigray and amhara regions, are often arranged by the parents of the bride and groom with a great deal of negotiation. Ethiopias approach to addressing child marriage is part of a broader initiative that aims to address harmful traditional practices affecting women including child marriage and female genital mutilationcutting fgmc. The practice of child marriage in ethiopia has shown significant decline in recent years. Unicef 2018, while the rate of decline in child marriage in ethiopia has been fastest among the african countries included in the global programme, child marriage in the country is relatively high, with 40 per cent of women age 2024 first married or in a union before age. Marrying and sponsoring an ethiopian citizen immigroup we. A girl should be married before she attains puberty, and certainly immediately after her first menstruation. Even in countries where child marriage is less common, the same gender differences are found. The real solution to the problem of marriage by abduction and child brides cannot come from government but civil society institutions engaged in community education and action. Amhara region of ethiopia, 30 percent of girls who were not in school said that the primary reason was marriage. This paper looks at two factors that may have an impact on the risk of divorce in ethiopia.
Pdf child marriage in ethiopia a matter of concern i. Marriage to an ethiopian citizen and spousal sponsorship to canada under the family sponsorship initiative is a complex process. Researched and compiled by the refugee documentation centre of ireland on 29 august 2011. Economic impacts of child marriage in ethiopia the seep network. Child marriage is a marriage in which either one of the parties, or both, is or was a child under the age of 18 at the time of union. Metcalfe filmed schoolgirl killer in 1999 in ethiopia, but the institution of marriage by abduction thrives with impunity today. Researched and compiled by the refugee documentation. Fortyfive per cent of first marriages in ethiopia end in divorce within 30 years, and twothirds of women who divorce do so within the first 5 years of marriage. According to unicef, ethiopia has the 15th highest prevalence rate of child marriage in the world and the fifth highest absolute number of child brides 2,104,000. A number of recent reports on child marriage deserve mention, as they offer new data, summarize the range of programs, or frame the issue in new ways. Child marriage and fertility in ethiopia english abstract.
Of the 41 countries worldwide with a child marriage prevalence rate of 30 percent or more, 30 are in african union countries. Surprising new evidence on child marriage in ethiopia. Zewde fentaw dances during her wedding ceremony in shumshah kebele, lasta woreda unicef ethiopia2015bindra. Child marriage prevention programs while one in three girls in developing country will be married before age 18, most child marriage prevention programs are smallscale and unevaluated. Child marriage and fertility in ethiopia english the.
The issue is more concentrated in countries of sub saharan africa and south asia. At its heart, child marriage is rooted in gender inequality and the belief that girls and women are somehow inferior to boys and men. Ethiopia is at one end of the continuum from criminalization to noncriminalization in the legal approach to child marriage in africa. Howtoendchildmarriageact onst at sfo p v nt onandp ot ct ont ansfo mha mfu cu tu a no mschildmarriageisdeeplyembeddedinculturaltraditionswhichcanbedi culttochange. According to tradition and culture the bride must be virgin when the marriage takes place. After a lapse of seventeen years, the evidence on the status of women in ethiopia society is horrifying and shocking to the conscience.
According to the most recent demographic and health survey data from 2011, the median age at which ethiopian women marry is 16. I was p reg n a t, hd olk f m yus b housework, deal with inlaws, and work on. Child marriage and female genital mutilation cutting dont just cause physical and emotional pain. Ending child marriage and meeting the needs of married. From 2011 to 2016, the prevalence of child marriage declined from 63 to 58.
In ethiopia and nepal, the prevalence of child marriage declined substantially 20 per cent. This study investigated the prevalence of early marriage in south wollo and east gojjam zones of the amhara region in ethiopia. Sexual, physical, psychological and economical violence against women is prevalent in many parts of ethiopia as a result of unequal power relations between men and women. The impact and cost of child marriage prevention in rural. Early marriage in south wollo and east gojjam zones of the. Child marriage may cost ethiopia billions of dollars, says. Contested understandings and practices of female child marriage and circumcision in ethiopia 2 summary this paper explores local perspectives on female child marriage and circumcision in ethiopia.
About 40 percent of girls are married by 15 or younger. The legal age of marriage is 18 for both males and females,16 but it is widely ignored. Child marriage is still a massive problem in many developing countries. Engaging in this fraud and trading americas security for financial gain is a.
Addis ababa, may 3, 2018 ethiopia s economy could potentially lose billions of dollars annually due to child marriage, says a new report by the world bank and the international center for research for women, which was launched today together with the ministry of women and childrens affairs. Ethiopias progress is strong compared to other countries in eastern and southern africa. Child marriage norms in contexts of crisis, conflict and migration 9. Unicefs girls empowerment photo project aims to document the hopes, dreams and aspirations of. Ethiopia is one of 20 countries which has committed to ending child marriage by the end of 2020 under the ministerial commitment on. Child marriage is a violation of childrens rights, womens rights, and human rights. Harmful traditional practices and child protection ethiopia. Child marriage is most prevalent in south asia and sub saharan africa and in some parts of latin america, the caribbean and the middle east unicef, 2017. October 2005 and the newly adopted criminal law of ethiopia. A guide for global policy action makes a strong case for international action, and strengthens the advocacy efforts of development practitioners and womens and childrens rights activists to end child marriage. Child marriage in ethiopia and its associated human uw bothell policy journal, 2012 11 definition of child marriage what exactly is child marriage and why is this localized, traditional practice a global concern. But child marriage may also have a direct impact on fertility after controlling for socioeconomic. The unfpaunicef global programme to accelerate action to end child marriage is being supported by canada, the european union, italy, netherlands, and the uk. Unfpaunicef global programme to accelerate action to end child marriage.
Both practices are widespread still, despite international and national efforts to eradicate. The causes, consequences and solutions to forced child. Ending child marriage is now part of the sustainable development goals. The the causes, consequences and solutions to causes, consequences and solutions tocauses, consequences and solutions to forced forced forced child marriage child marriage child marriage in the developing worldin the developing world testimony submitted to u. Ending child marriage in a generation ford foundation. Early marriage and pregnancy are challenges faced by many teenage girls in ethiopia.
Whether a talaq pronounced by a wife in an adjoining country. Research has consistently documented the adverse economic, social, demographic and reproductive health consequences of child marriage for child brides, their families and their communities 1,2,3,4,5,6,7. Despite setting a goal of ending child marriage in bangladesh by 2041, sheikh hasina has also proposed legislation that would lower the age of marriage for girls to 16 from the current age of 18. This study on the causes and consequences of early marriage in the amhara region of ethiopia was conducted in march april 2006. Jan 15, 2007 rural ethiopia ignores law against child brides ethiopia s government is backing a series of new familyplanning policies, including a ban on marrying girls before theyre 18. A national law requires consenting couples to be at least 18 years old to marry. But when she was 14, her uncle who was raising her, told her she was too old for school. Jul 09, 2015 in ethiopia two of every five girls are married before their 18th birthday. In the republic of moldova, for example, 15 per cent of women aged 20 to 49 were married before age 18 compared to 2 per cent of men. In contrast, ending the practice of child marriage would have a large positive effect on the. Community engagement to eliminate bride price, bride abduction and early marriage in ethiopia by kemal jemal tunne, healthy unions project team leader, care field office in borana email. This work is a result of a series of technical consultations on child marriage. Ethiopia as a nation, defining it as an obsolete empirestate, a prison house of peoples. The principal focus of the study was to generate both quantitative and qualitative information on the current practice of early marriage and to critically examine the causes and consequences of the practice in the.
Girls most at risk each dot represents a country in every region, the poor are most at risk of child marriage percentage of women aged 20 to 49 years who were married or in union before age 18, by place of residence child marriage is most common in rural areas 100 80. Ethiopias geopolitical realities also factor into the perpetuation of child marriage. State department human rights country report on ethiopia 2 described the status of women in appallingly disheartening terms. Improving the lives of married adolescent girls in amhara, ethiopia a summary of the evidence background today, there are nearly 70 million child brides worldwide, with an estimated 142 million more destined for early marriage over the next decade. Save the childrens child protection strategy 202015 our approach save the childrens approach is based on every child s right to be protected and cared for, ideally by their own family or in a familylike environment. In south asia, almost half of girls marry before age 18, and one in six before age 15. Early marriage has profound physical, intellectual, psychological and emotional impacts and reduces educational opportunities and the chance for personal growth for both boys and girls. Child marriage continues to be highly prevalent in africa, where almost 40% of girls are married before age 18. New yorkaddis ababa, 8 march 2016 a new multicountry initiative to accelerate action to end child marriage will help protect the rights of millions of the worlds most vulnerable girls, unicef and unfpa said on international womens day. Community engagement to eliminate bride price, bride. Revised 042014 ethiopia administrative region 14 municipality of addis ababa embassy of the united states of america ss.
The countrys national strategy emerged in the context of ethiopias aim to reach middle income. Early marriage in ethiopia overseas development institute. Ending child marriage in a generation page 3 these programs have taught us a lot about where we should be focusing our efforts to prevent, delay, and mitigate child marriage. Ethiopia recently adopted a strategy to end child marriage, and. Also in 2014, the au appointed a goodwill ambassador for ending child marriage and. Background besides, the presence of national law, the country has to set up its own midterm and long term goals to bring about a significant reduction in child marriages in ethiopia. April 2011 ethiopia has one of the highest rates of early marriage in the world, with one in two girls marrying before her 18th birthday and one in five girls marrying before the age of 15. Jul 18, 2018 ethiopia has one of the highest rates of early marriage in subsaharan africa.
Child marriage impedes girls education the education a girl receives is the strongest predictor of the age she will marry, according to icrw analysis in 18 of the 20 countries with the highest prevalence of child marriage. Karin heissler unicef ethiopia, mini bhaskar unicef ethiopia, majorie kaandorp. Neither victimless nor limited in scope, the crime of marriage fraud is anything but a trivial matter. Child marriages are prevalent in rural regions, and amhara, where yinsa is located, has the highest rate in ethiopia.
The ethiopian government has also made notable and accelerating progress on a. Poverty, lack of education, cultural practices, and insecurity fuel and sustain the practice. In the amhara region where selenat lives the average age is 14. Most african countries with high rates of child marriage have civil laws that prohibit child marriage and set minimum marriage ages. Ending child marriages new laws bring progress but hurdles. The survey was conducted from july 16 to august 20, 2007. House of representatives human rights commissions human rights commission. Unfpaunicef global programme to accelerate action to end. Time constraints and lack of resources have resulted in this report, which, only touches upon the different factors affecting childrens rights in ethiopia. The prevalence of child marriage among hindu people, for example, is in part due to the ancient hindu scriptures that sanctioned them. Addis ababa, may 3, 2018 ethiopias economy could potentially lose billions of dollars annually due to child marriage, says a new report by the world bank and the international center for research for women, which was launched today together with the ministry of women and childrens affairs. Despite challenges, ending early marriage in ethiopia is. Ethiopia has one of the most severe crises of child marriage in the world today. Improving the lives of married adolescent girls in amhara.
Evidence from ethiopia 2 young lives policy brief 21 july 2014 child marriage is still the norm in ethiopia where the most recent national figures suggest that more than half 58% of. Child marriage and psychological wellbeing in niger and. Pdf the incidence of child marriage is not only in nepal but also in the world. In ethiopia, two in every five girls is married before the age of 18 and this practice is prevalent across all the regions. Jun 19, 2015 early marriage and pregnancy are challenges faced by many teenage girls in ethiopia. New evidence on child marriage prevention in ethiopia usaid. Elementary school students learn about the law in their civics classes, as well as about the health and economic consequences of early marriage. The practice of child marriage in ethiopia has shown significant. Unicefs girls empowerment photo project aims to document the hopes, dreams and aspirations of young women. An evaluability assessment is an exercise to determine the overall readiness of the programme to be evaluated in a reliable and credible fashion and check the coherence and logic of the programme. Annabel erulkar, an ethiopia based program director with the international nonprofit population council, attributed the notable drop in child marriages throughout the country largely to these. Child marriage often occurs in the shadows of poverty and gender inequality, impeding efforts to empower girls and boys and achieve longterm, sustainable development. There is cumulative anecdotal evidence of the occurrence of such practices just in the past few months.
National context with regard to adolescent girls ethiopia has achieved strong economic growth over the past decadeaveraging nearly 11% a year africa economic outlook, 2015, more than twice the regional average world bank, 2015. The government committed to further action at the girl summit in. The international community is increasingly aware of the negative impacts of child marriage on a wide range of development outcomes. Child marriage violates girls basic human rights and brings their childhoods to a swift end. This handbook aims at narrowing the gap in research and advocacy on the rights of the child in ethiopia. Child marriage violates girls basic human rights and brings their child hoods to a swift end. While 18 is set as the legal age of marriage in the revised family code of 2000, special provisions in the criminal code of 2005 article 649 criminalizes child marriage. Ethiopian marriages christian marriages, muslim marriages. There are few empirical or systematic studies documenting the scope and magnitude of. Coverage and effects of child marriage prevention activities. If traditional marriages are recognised in ethiopia without the need for a civil ceremony or registration process 3. Yet investments to end the practice remain limited. Ethiopia is a landlocked country located in the eastern region of africa, called the horn of africa, bordered by six conflict ridden countries. Before me, of the united states of america at addis ababa, ethiopia.
Child marriage and infant mortality evidence from ethiopia jorge garc a hombrados phd student university of sussex jorge garcia hombrados u. An informal union is one in which a couple live together for some time, intending to have a lasting relationship, but do. Ethiopia s approach to addressing child marriage is part of a broader initiative that aims to address harmful traditional practices affecting women including child marriage and female genital mutilationcutting fgmc. Its important to stress that it is virtually impossible to write a child rights analysis on the situation of children in ethiopia without missing important details. Child marriage and infant mortality evidence from ethiopia. A 20 study pdf published by anastasia gage, supported under the usaidfunded measure evaluation project, sheds new light on how exposure to behavior change communication bcc affects knowledge and attitudes on cm among parents and guardians in amhara region.
In amharas quarit district, it is still common for girls as young as five to be married, but these marriages are purely ceremonial and are quickly followed by divorce. Ethiopia ethiopias approach to child marriage is closely linked to its work to end fgm and is guided by a national strategy and action plan on harmful traditional practices against women and children, which was launched in 20. It is both a symptom and a cause of ongoing development challenges, as the practice of child marriage further contributes to. For unifpa 2006 early marriage, also known as child marriage, is defined as any marriage carried out below the age of 18 years, before the girl is physically, physiologically, and psychologically ready to shoulder the responsibilities of marriage and childbearing. Marriage can lead to unique changes in the life of an adolescent girl and. Evidence from ethiopia 2 young lives policy brief 21 july 2014 child marriage is still the norm in ethiopia where the most recent national figures suggest that more than half 58% of all women aged between 20 and 49 in 2011 were married by the legal age of 18 csae 2012a. How does teenage marriage and motherhood affect the lives. Ending child marriage united nations population fund. The countrys national strategy emerged in the context of ethiopia s aim to reach middle income.
Child marriage prevalence is the percentage of women aged 20 to 24 years. In 2004 ethiopia signed, but has not yet ratified, the african charter on human and peoples rights on the rights of women in africa, including article 6 which sets the minimum age for marriage as 18. Though i was predisposed toward the ethiopia i had studied since the late 1950s, i appreciated that within its. Furthermore, girls are often married to considerably older men. The interplay between community, household and child level. The 2007 emes is the first largescale household survey in ethiopia to provide populationbased estimates on levels of exposure to early marriage prevention messages and their influence on knowledge, attitudes, and skills conducive to delaying marriage. Introduction child marriage refers to any marriage of a child younger than eighteen years old, in accordance to article 1 of the convention of the right of the child.
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