Every day, one in five young women is forced into marriage as a child, according to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA). Despite widespread condemnation, child marriage remains common worldwide. Even as laws banning it are enacted like in Colombia earlier this year, the practice persists.
Here are five common myths about child marriage and the truths behind them.
MYTH 1: CHILD MARRIAGE IS ALWAYS ILLEGAL
International agreements prohibit child marriage. This includes the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Yet, 640 million women and girls worldwide were married as children, with new cases occurring daily.
How does this happen? Many countries set the legal marriage age below 18 or allow exceptions with parental consent or religious approval. Additionally, unregistered marriages make legal enforcement difficult.
Ending child marriage requires more than laws. It demands societal change, valuing girls beyond their roles as wives and mothers. Initiatives like Taalim-i-Naubalighan in Bihar, India—where two in five girls marry before 18—aim to educate young people. They focus on gender equality and human rights.
Altamash, a student in Bihar, prevented his sister’s marriage. “I understood her dreams and convinced my father. Now, she is completing her education.”
MYTH 2: CHILD MARRIAGE IS SOMETIMES NECESSARY
Many parents view child marriage as a solution, especially in crisis situations. Economic hardship and social norms push families to marry off their daughters to secure financial support and protection from violence.
Nonetheless, childmarriage leads to severe consequences. Young brides experience higher levels of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. Early pregnancies pose life-threatening risks, as childbirth complications are a leading cause of death among adolescent girls.
Nicolette, 16, from Madagascar, once accepted childmarriage as normal. After attending a UNFPA awareness session, she realized, “Everyone has the right to pursue their ambitions. Marriage should be a choice.”
MYTH 3: CHILD MARRIAGE IS DISAPPEARING
While childmarriage rates are declining globally, population growth in high-prevalence regions means absolute numbers are rising. The highest number of child brides are in Asia and the Pacific, while sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates. Latin America and the Caribbean may become the second-most affected region by 2030.
The issue isn’t limited to developing nations. It occurs in the U.K. and the U.S. as well. Sara Tasneem, forced into marriage at 15 in Nevada, recalls, “I met my husband in the morning and was married that night.”
To eliminate childmarriage, action must be accelerated. Education and empowerment of girls remain crucial.
Hadiza, 16, from Niger, narrowly avoided marriage. “A mentor helped me negotiate with my parents to postpone the wedding,” she says. Now an apprentice tailor, she plans to marry for love when ready.
MYTH 4: CHILD MARRIAGE IS A CULTURAL OR RELIGIOUS ISSUE
No major religion mandates child marriage. Yet, the practice is sometimes justified under cultural or religious traditions. Many religious leaders actively oppose it, advocating for education before marriage.
Shirkhan Chobanov, an imam in Georgia, emphasizes, “Religiously and legally, early marriage is discouraged. Young people should complete their education first.”
UNFPA collaborates with faith leaders worldwide to combat child marriage. Gebreegziabher Tiku, an Ethiopian priest, notes, “We are seeing great progress in preventing child marriage.”
MYTH 5: ONLY GIRLS ARE AFFECTED
While child marriage overwhelmingly impacts girls, boys are also affected. Around 115 million men and boys were married before turning 18. These marriages lead to early fatherhood, disrupted education, and limited future opportunities.
But, girls remain disproportionately impacted. One in five women aged 20-24 was married as a child, compared to one in 30 men. In countries with high rates of child marriage, cases among boys are significantly lower.
Regardless of gender, childmarriage stems from economic inequality, limited reproductive health services, and gender-based discrimination. Dr. Gabrielle Hosein, from the University of the West Indies, highlights, “We’ve abolished childmarriage, but not predatory masculinity.”
Kevin Liverpool, an advocate with CariMAN, stresses the role of men and boys in ending childmarriage. “Raising awareness about gender equality benefits not just women, but all of society.”
THE ROAD TO ENDING CHILD MARRIAGE
Childmarriage is a global crisis that persists due to legal loopholes, economic struggles, and deep-rooted societal norms. Ending it requires more than laws—it demands education, gender equality, and community engagement.
By empowering girls, challenging harmful traditions, and holding governments accountable, the world can finally say “I don’t” to child marriage.