What Are the Causes of Child Marriage?

While we may think of child marriage as an outdated practice, millions of girls around the world are still forced into underage marriages each year. One of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030. This includes ending child marriage across the globe. The U.N.’s pre-pandemic estimates predicted that 100 million girls would become child brides by 2030. This number has increased to 110 million due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects. So, what are the causes of child marriage?

• Social Norms - Some of the causes of child marriage are social norms passed down through generations in various parts of the world. This often happens in areas where people lack access to education, and where women and girls have little agency over their lives. Child marriages can also be political and used as a way to strengthen the relationship between different communities. 
  
• Poverty - Poverty is a major factor contributing to child marriage. Families often view boys as more valuable than girls for working purposes. Because of this, they may try to reduce their costs and achieve financial security by marrying off their daughters. Marriage is also a means of survival for these girls who have less access to education and a low societal status. They are economically dependent on men and may view marriage as their only option.
  
• Gender Inequality - Gender inequality is a major factor in child marriages and goes hand-in-hand with both poverty and social norms. Discriminatory systems have long treated women and girls as less than their male counterparts and denied them the same opportunities. This means that girls have no say over their own bodies, choices, or lives, and are often forced into child marriages because of the inequalities they face compared to men.

The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) advocates for the rights of all uprooted people, including women and girls forced into child marriages, as well as all survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. We are currently working to end child marriage in Jordan and all around the world by increasing access to education for girls. We are also trying to eliminate poverty by protecting labor rights and improving working conditions for these vulnerable communities. In addition, we’ve released a video addressing child marriage and its negative consequences within the Rohingya refugee community in Malaysia. Find out how you can make a difference and help us fight for gender equality and end child marriage today!

About the International Catholic Migration Commission

The International Catholic Migration Commission is a nonprofit organization that protects, serves, and advocates for displaced people throughout the world. We help refugees, asylum-seekers, victims of human trafficking, and migrants of all faiths, races, and ethnicities forge lives in safety and dignity.

With support from people like you, ICMC delivers humanitarian aid and social development, protects vulnerable migrants, contributes to refugee resettlement efforts, advocates before governments, and partners with civic leaders. We seek a sustainable solution to dangerous migration and refugee crises.

Find out more by visiting our website.