Child marriage is a grave issue that continues to plague the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, leading to dire consequences for young girls who are thrust into adulthood prematurely. Equality Now and the Hurra Coalition delve into the harrowing realities of child marriage, exposing the intrinsic link between this practice and sexual violence.
Child marriage is not merely a cultural practice but a severe human rights violation. These young brides also face a higher risk of domestic violence, leading to lifelong trauma and psychological scars.
Shocking Statistics in the MENA Region
The statistics surrounding child marriage in the MENA region are staggering. According to UNICEF and UNFPA, 1 in 5 girls are married before their 18th birthday. Even more alarming, 70% of married girls aged 15-19 experience physical or sexual violence from their husbands. These numbers highlight the urgent need for intervention and support for these vulnerable girls.
Sudan and Yemen face the highest prevalence of child marriage in the region, with 1 in 3 girls married before 18. In Sudan, child marriage remains a significant issue despite various national and international efforts to combat it, with the situation currently worsened by the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis. About 38% of Sudanese girls are married before they turn 18. With child marriage being deeply rooted in cultural and religious practices, many young brides are subjected to marital rape and other forms of gender-based violence.
In Yemen, the situation is equally dire. Approximately 30% of Yemeni girls marry before the age of 18, and 7% marry before the age of 15; often due to the economic hardships exacerbated by ongoing conflict and instability. Child brides in Yemen frequently experience sexual violence, as well as severe restrictions on their freedom and education, perpetuating cycles of poverty and gender inequality.
In Egypt, studies conducted by the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood reveal that a significant 25% of young married girls reported forced sexual encounters with their husbands. This statistic underscores the pervasive nature of sexual violence within child marriages and the urgent need for protective measures and support systems for these girls.
Despite legal reforms in Morocco, child marriage persists, and many young brides continue to face sexual violence. Human Rights Watch reported that girls as young as 13 were being forced into marriages and subsequently raped by their husbands. This reality highlights the gap between legal reforms and actual practice, emphasizing the need for robust enforcement of laws and community education to eradicate child marriage.
Voices of Resilience
“My dream was to live an experience I only saw on TV: to go to university. This is how my family eventually convinced me to marry an older man. They said that he would enroll me in a university in France and that my life would be better, but the reality was different”, said Iman, who was married off at 16.
Iman, a Morrocan, now 27 years old, explained how she was forced into marrying a physically, emotionally, and sexually abusive husband. “I was not his first child bride. After marrying him and moving to a new city, I discovered that this man was a serial abuser of young girls, who would typically marry girls for two months before divorcing them”. Iman said he would prey on girls from low-income families who would give away their daughters in marriage for money. Read the full story here.
Salma, too, is from Morocco. She was married off at 16 and said, “When I was younger, I dreamed of becoming a lawyer or a flight attendant to travel the world. But all that ended when I was pulled out of school to be married off.”
The pressure from her family was stronger than her ability to refuse: “They told me that marrying a 40-year-old rich man would guarantee a better life out of poverty. I feel my father had sold me to a man who abused me,” Salma told us. During the engagement, she saw the future awaiting her: “He used to yell at me and hit me if someone looked at me. My parents still forced me to marry him,” she said. Read the full story here.
These testimonies reflect the grim reality many young girls face in the MENA region and highlight the urgent need for support and intervention.
The Trauma of Rape
The trauma inflicted on girls married as children is profound. According to the World Health Organization and UNICEF, these girls are at a higher risk of developing severe psychological issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. The trauma of rape and forced sexual encounters during their formative years leaves indelible marks on their mental health, affecting their overall well-being and quality of life.
Equality Now and the Hurra Coalition: A United Front
Addressing the issue of child marriage and its associated sexual violence requires a multifaceted approach. Advocacy for stricter laws, support for girls’ education, and raising awareness about the links between child marriage and sexual violence are crucial steps in breaking this cycle.
Equality Now, collaborating with the Hurra Coalition members in the MENA region, is at the forefront of tackling child marriage. Through strategic advocacy, legal reform efforts, and grassroots mobilization, we are working to ensure that girls are protected from the horrors of child marriage and sexual violence.
“Our comprehensive approach involves robust legal advocacy to enforce and enhance laws prohibiting child marriage, ensuring these reforms are effectively implemented. I am deeply committed to our mission of eradicating child marriage. This harmful practice not only robs young girls of their childhood but also subjects them to lifelong consequences, including health risks, lack of education, and exposure to violence”, said Dr. Dima Dabbous, Equality Now MENA Representative.
In Egypt, the Hurra Coalition has members working to ensure progress regarding legal reforms and community awareness. “Despite existing national laws and international agreements, child marriage persists due to gaps in enforcement and the lack of specific punitive measures,” confirmed Rabha Fathy, Managing Director of the Association of Egyptian Female Lawyers.
Emphasizing the importance of legal reforms, Rabha added, “Our project has focused on advocating for robust legislative reforms, including proposing a new law to criminalize child marriage. This proposed law, developed in collaboration with civil society organizations, government bodies, and legal experts, aims to close these legal loopholes and ensure stringent penalties for violators. Our sustained advocacy has led to considerable support within the legislative community, with key parliamentarians endorsing our proposal, bringing us closer to safeguarding children’s rights and ending this harmful practice.”
Through the collaborative efforts of Equality Now and Hurra Coalition members in the MENA region, we are making significant progress in working with governments and partners. We are aiming to protect our girls, break the cycle of child marriage, and build a future where every girl can live free from violence and oppression.
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