The emerging themes with regards to impacts of child marriage on children with and without disabilities are strikingly similar. However, the compromised condition under which the marriage takes place for children with disabilities intensifies the consequences and impact of marriage. It does not only affect the overall well–being and quality of life of the child, but also compromises their capacity to cope with and overcome the impact. It thus has a spiralling effect throughout their childhood and beyond also impacting their children. Key recommendations Develop and establish an evidence base, to develop and inform inclusive programming aiming to prevent child marriage and respond to violence against children with disabilities. More research on the prevalence rate of marriage among children with disabilities as well as further research on specific issues and challenges faced by adolescents and youth with disabilities including vulnerabilities for child marriage is needed. Further research to explore how children with disabilities are affected by child marriage across different identity groups in different geographic locations such as intersection with caste/ethnicity/age including different forms of disabilities. Build knowledge and capacity of child protection and professionals working on child marriage programming on the rights, vulnerabilities and capacities of children with disabilities Recommendations for further research This study has demonstrated that marriage among children with disabilities is practiced. This must be acknowledged by the international development community and brought into the current work on policy, advocacy and programming work undertaken on child marriage. There is a need to develop an in-depth understanding of the root causes that produce and sustain various forms of discrimination and exclusion. In addition to immediate preventive measures to stop child marriage, efforts also need to be made towards addressing the sources of discrimination and inequality.
Concluding discussions The impact of child marriage on children with disabilities indicates that it seriously threatens their overall well-being and dignity. Child marriage triggers a continuum of violence throughout the individual's life, beyond childhood, even compromising the rights and dignity of their children. It violates the rights enshrined by different conventions – as a child, as a person with a disability, as a girl and most importantly as a human being. The social construct of «marriage» built around the gendered expectations and the social identity of a person with «disability» continue to its affects, enabling not only the occurrence of child marriage but also deepening its impact. Decisions on marriage made in highly compromised situations because of the disability, creates further vulnerabilities for children with disabilities, as does their limited access to valuable life skills, support structures and protection mechanisms. Decisions made about marriage with disregard to the girls' agency disempower girls. It impacts the girls' capacity to cope with the emerging situations, overcome challenges and build a better life with dignity in the future. What further adds to this concern is the fact that neither the children with disabilities themselves, nor their immediate family or the community see it as a problem. Marriage is rather seen as a solution to existing problem or a passage out of undesirable situations. For these children, who are yet to acquire the skills to manage the complexities of adulthood, they also face challenges in coping with the issues at hand. This coping capacity is further compromised for girls and even more for children with disabilities; as a child with a disability one does not have the same access and opportunities as others. Children with disabilities do not have a platform to gain necessary insights and skills, as they are protected within families, do not attend or drop out of school, are isolated, have limited mobility and access to social processes, platforms and institutions. Like in the case of decision-making, the consequences of marriage are also complex. Each consequence is a result of multiple of factors and layers of vulnerabilities. And the impact of well-being is impacted by home environment which in turn is intensified by separation, poverty and actions of close family members. A strained relationship with in-laws or spouse, other hardships and situational challenges coupled with the lack of emotional and physical support creates a new set of challenges for coping and adjusting to the new environment. One vulnerability and consequence leads to another, creating a spiral of negative impact.
1 Primary 1 14 F 39 Yes: Tharu/Janajati Physical Non disabled 45 2 Primary 2 17 M 23 Yes: Blind Blind 19 3 Primary 3 17 F 18 Yes: Chaudari Blind (low vision) Blind 22 4 Primary 4 13 F 32 Yes: Gandarva/Dalit Blind Intellectual Disable (ID) 34-35 5 Primary 5 13 F 31 Yes: Pariyar/Dalit Physical ID 32 6 Primary 6 15 F 29 Yes: Subba/Janajati Blind Blind 17 7 Primary 7 17 M 43 Yes: Subba/Janajati Blind Non Disabled 17 8 Primary 8 16 F 21 Yes: Physical Non disabled (rape) 45 9 Primary 9 15 F 27 No: Budathoki/ Chhetri Deaf ID 45 Primary 10 15 F 40 No: Physical Low vision 21 Primary 11 15 M 30 No: Physical status not disclosed 15 Primary 12 18 M 35 No: ID status not disclosed 18 Primary 13 15 F 31 No: Deaf Deaf 25 Primary 14 14 (first M 26 No: ID (ID/disability status non disclosed); 3rd marriage (1st ID; consent; 2 non disabled) 14 Primary 15 15 F 18 Yes:.Dalit Physical Non Disabled (arranged; preference /selected by boy) 17 Primary 16 17 F 18 No: Kayat Physical Non Disabled (rape case) 18 Primary 17 17 M 40 No: Physical Non disabled 16 Primary 18 15 F 21 No: /Brahmin ID non disabled 32