For both boys and girls, early marriage has profound physical, intellectual, psychological and emotional consequences, cutting off educational opportunities and chances for personal growth. Child marriages can be found across the globe, but are pervasive in parts of Africa and South Asia. In Bangladesh, poverty-stricken parents are persuaded to part with daughters through promises of marriage, or by false marriages, which are used to lure girls into prostitution abroad. Accounts from Iraq indicate that early marriage is rising there in response to poverty. In the communities studied, all decisions on the timing of marriage and the choice of spouse were made by the father.
Abuse is common in child marriages.
A study in Jordan, published in 2000, found that 26 per cent of reported cases of domestic violence were committed against wives under 18. Domestic violence causes some girls to run away in desperation. Those who do so, and those who choose a marriage partner against the wishes of their parents, may be punished, or even killed by their families. Preventing Child Marriage To prevent child marriage a wide range of individuals and organizations, from community leaders to international bodies, must take action. A first step is to inform parents and young people about the negative implications of child marriage so they can choose to prevent it.