Early marriage is a harmful practice that denies girls their right to make vital decisions about their sexual health and well-being. It forces them out of education and into a life of poor prospects, with an increased risk of violence, abuse, ill health or early death.

Interracial marriage in the United States has been fully legal in all U.S. states since the 1967 Supreme Court decision that deemed anti-miscegenation state laws unconstitutional, with many states choosing to legalize interracial marriage at much earlier dates.

73. In addition, children of divorce are 50 percent more likely to marry another child of divorce. 74. Certain studies have shown that daughters of divorced parents have a 60 percent higher divorce rate in marriages than children of non-divorced parents while sons have a 35 percent higher rate.

Child marriages often occurred throughout history and are still prevailing due to variety of reasons including:

• Poverty.
• Insecurity.
• Political and financial reasons.
• Lack of education.
• Patriarchy and gender inequalities.
• Inadequate implementation of the law.

In particular, women reported that being forced into marriage, often to a stranger, and the burden of marital responsibilities, most notably partner’s sexual demands and childbearing and child-rearing, led to significant emotional distress and depression.

Child Marriage – Devastating Consequences

• CHILD MARRIAGE DESTROYS GIRLS’ EDUCATION AND LEADS TO POVERTY.
• CHILD MARRIAGE IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS FOR PREGNANT GIRLS.
• CHILD MARRIAGE DEVASTATES GIRLS’ HEALTH.
• CHILD MARRIAGE INCREASES GIRLS’ RISK OF EXPERIENCING VIOLENCE.
• CHILD MARRIAGE ALMOST ALWAYS FAILS.
• CHILD MARRIAGE CAN EASILY BE FORCED MARRIAGE.

Psychologically, women married as children are more likely to suffer from symptoms related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and symptoms of depression. In the U.S., marriage before age 18 is associated with a 23 percent greater risk of diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

According to Tom Muhire a student at Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, “Early marriages lead to divorce because young people are taken up by love so quickly and yet at time its something else thus fades so fast.”

They are at higher risk of physical and sexual violence. Child brides are also at greater risk of experiencing dangerous complications in pregnancy and childbirth, contracting HIV/AIDS and suffering domestic violence.

Joan of France, Duchess of Berry (age 12), was betrothed in a wedding contract at age 8-days-old, she was officially married at the age of twelve in 1476, to her cousin Louis, Duke of Orléans (aged 14).

Maldives

According to a recent survey of 191 CDFA professionals from across North America, the three leading causes of divorce are “basic incompatibility” (43%), “infidelity” (28%), and “money issues” (22%).