This refers to a formal or informal union where at least one party is under the age of 18. This is considered a type of forced marriage because at least one of the parties does not have the capacity to give full, free, and informed consent.
This is a harmful practice that particularly affects girls, especially in contexts of poverty, humanitarian crisis, or armed conflicts. Often, this is used as an option to look for a better economic and social future, as well as safety. However, the evidence shows the opposite to be the case: countries associated to a greater number of child marriages also have poor results in terms of maternal health, education, HIV/AIDS, gender equality, food security, and poverty (ECPAT, 2014).
Often, small girls are forced to marry much older men (CDN, CEDAW, 2014), which results in significant imbalances in power relations and the submission to the decision of their spouse. Consequently, girls are more exposed to sexual violence from their partner. In this sense, child marriage constitutes a violation of their rights (for example, to health and education), reduces their opportunities , and it exposes them to the different types of violence and a cycle of poverty that limits their future prospects.
Many binding and non-binding legal international law instruments proscribe child marriage. For example, article 4 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and articles 5 and 16 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) that took place in 1994 in Cairo also urged countries to eliminate child marriage in its Plan of Action (Paragraphs 4.11, 6.11, and 7.41).
In order to recognize children’s progressive autonomy, the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women have established that it is possible to allow the marriage of a person under the age of 18, as long as they are mature, capable, and at least 16. The judge who adopts this decision must base it on exceptional and legitimate reasons that are defined in the legislation. They must also be based on assessments of maturity and adopt the decision without the influence of culture or tradition (CDN, CEDAW, 2014).
Comité para la Eliminación de la Discriminación contra la Mujer Comité de los Derechos del Niño. Recomendación general núm. 31 del Comité para la Eliminación de la Discriminación contra la Mujer y observación general núm. 18 del Comité de los Derechos del Niño sobre las prácticas nocivas, adoptadas de manera conjunta. 2014.
UNICEF. Matrimonio infantil. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
Orientaciones terminológicas para la protección de niñas, niños y adolescentes contra la explotación y el abuso sexual. ECPAT /End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Taffiking of Children for Sexual Purposes (Acabar con la Prostitución Infantil, la Pornografía Infantil y el Tráfico de Niños con fines Sexuales).
Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas. (2014). Prevención y eliminación del matrimonio infantil, precoz y forzado.
UNFPA. Preguntas frecuentes sobre el matrimonio infantil. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
UNFPA. Matrimonio infantil. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
UNICEF. El matrimonio infantil y las uniones tempranas Resumen del estudio de conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas en seis municipios de la República Dominicana. 2017. UNICEF.
UNICEF. Fondo de las Naciones Unidas para la Infancia, Perfil del matrimonio infantil y las uniones tempranas en América Latina y el Caribe, UNICEF, Nueva York, 2019.
ACNUR. Prevención y eliminación del matrimonio infantil, precoz y forzado. Informe de la Oficina del Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos Humanos. 2015.
Girls not Brides. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
Uniones tempranas. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
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