Nearly half all children in Afghanistan are out of school due to conflict, poverty, child marriage and discrimination against girls, the number rising for the first time since 2002, humanitarian organisations said in a report on Sunday.

Spreading violence has forced many schools to close, undermining fragile gains in education for girls in a country where millions have never set foot in a class room.

Some 3.7 million children between the ages of seven and 17, or 44 per cent of all children, are out of school, 2.7 million of them girls, Education Minister Mirwais Balkhi told a seminar, explaining a study conducted by UNICEF, USAID and the independent Samuel Hall think-tank.

The Taliban, seeking to oust the U.S.-backed government and return the country to strict Islamic rule after their 2001 ouster, are adamantly opposed to education for girls and threats from Islamic State has forced the closure of dozens of schools.

Without mentioning the Taliban or Islamic State, Balkhi said there were "many reasons" for children not going to school.

"Education of children is the most important development in all human communities," he said. "It is the most important tool in fighting war, poverty and unemployment."

In the worst affected provinces, up to 85 per cent of girls are not going to school, the aid groups said. They did not give specific time periods or comparisons.

In April this year, militants set ablaze two schools and widespread violence had led to closure of hundreds of private schools.

"Business as usual is not an option for Afghanistan if we are to fulfil the right to edIucation for every child," said Adele Khodr of UNICEF in the report.

"When children are not in school, they are at increased danger of abuse, exploitation and recruitment."

One teenage girl, Ziwar, from central Daikundi, one of the safest provinces in the country, said she had been at school until she was 14.

"I can read and write. I can write a letter," she told seminar delegates. "I learn from books. I want to continue my studies. I want to become a doctor in the future."

Nearly half all children in Afghanistan are out of school due to conflict, poverty, child marriage and discrimination against girls, the number rising for the first time since 2002, humanitarian organisations said in a report on Sunday

Nearly half all children in Afghanistan are out of school due to conflict, poverty, child marriage and discrimination against girls, the number rising for the first time since 2002, humanitarian organisations said in a report on Sunday. Spreading violence has forced many schools to close, undermining fragile gains in education for girls in a country where millions have never set foot in a class room. Some 3.7 million children between the ages of seven and 17, or 44 per cent of all children, are out of school, 2.7 million of them girls, Education Minister Mirwais Balkhi told a seminar, explaining a study conducted by UNICEF, USAID and the independent Samuel Hall think-tank. The Taliban, seeking to oust the U.S.-backed government and return the country to strict Islamic rule after their 2001 ouster, are adamantly opposed to education for girls and threats from Islamic State has forced the closure of dozens of schools. Without mentioning the Taliban or Islamic State, Balkhi said there were "many reasons" for children not going to school. "Education of children is the most important development in all human communities," he said. "It is the most important tool in fighting war, poverty and unemployment." In the worst affected provinces, up to 85 per cent of girls are not going to school, the aid groups said. They did not give specific time periods or comparisons. In April this year, militants set ablaze two schools and widespread violence had led to closure of hundreds of private schools. "Business as usual is not an option for Afghanistan if we are to fulfil the right to edIucation for every child," said Adele Khodr of UNICEF in the report. "When children are not in school, they are at increased danger of abuse, exploitation and recruitment." One teenage girl, Ziwar, from central Daikundi, one of the safest provinces in the country, said she had been at school until she was 14. "I can read and write. I can write a letter," she told seminar delegates. "I learn from books. I want to continue my studies. I want to become a doctor in the future."

Nearly half Afghan children out of school, rising for first time since 2002

Almost half of all girls in South Asia marry before the age of 18, says UNICEF. One in five girls is married before the age of 15. Bangladesh is the worst offenders in this regard followed by India. Child marriages are most prevalent in rural India, with rates of child marriage being the highest in the central and western parts of India and lower in the eastern and southern parts of the country.&nbsp;

While these facts and figures, as a journalist, are not unknown to me, to meet a child bride is a different experience. Discomforting and unnerving too. In a book release ceremony recently organised by HAQ, I came face to face dozen of child brides-most of whom are married but have not met their groom or the in-laws yet. Many of them pointed out to me that they didn&#39;t even remember the face of their husband not to mention the marriage ceremony.&nbsp;

I have, as the UNICEF does too, always associated the menace of child marriage with the restraints poverty places on an individual family. Recently, the Guardian even carried a report as to how an increasing number of African girl children are getting married off because of climate change, such as drought and flood, crop loss and stunted growth. Thus Africa witnesses a social evil because a drastic environmental change is taking an economic toll on their lives.

But poverty is not always the stimulus behind child marriage. As was pointed out to me in so many words by Ayesha. Ayesha comes from a village of Murshidabad. Not necessarily a child of a poor father, Ayesha&#39;s family tried to give her off in marriage as per the cultural norms of her community. She repeatedly blames societal norms for the trauma she underwent as a child. From the tender age of 3 months, her father tried to get her married off at least dozen times before she entered her teens.

The only silver lining of her story is that all these hardships hardened her resolve to complete her education. She is the only girl from her village who has successfully completed a Masters degree in science. Now Ayesha devotes her time in fighting the curse of child marriage which she claims is still ubiquitous in the villages of Murshidabad.&nbsp;

Jaya is another woman who went through the ordeal of getting married at the age of 13. Hailing from a village in Rajasthan, Jaya went through the terrible pain of getting beaten by her in-laws and even her husband. Her voice of protest was stifled and met with further harassment. But Jaya did not give up. Now she is a well-known activist who plays a pivotal role in organising the women against the menace of child marriages. She does not depend on the government or anyone else for her crusade. She has fought for the education of her of own two girls who are now principals of local schools.&nbsp;

If these two grown-ups tell us the stories of the lives that have, fortunately, taken a favourable turn over time, though it has exacted a very stiff price in the course, there are many other young girls who still stare at an unknown future.&nbsp;

One such fighter is young Zeba. She hails from Rajasthan too. She was given to marriage at the age of 3. Now a student of class XI and already a child rights activist, Zeba asked her mother the reason behind such an act. Her mother&#39;s answer was that the family did not have money to marry off all her sisters separately. So her eldest sister who was 16 at that time and Zeba at 3, all were married off together in a pack. Zeba has not met her husband yet. Her parents constantly threaten that at the completion of Class XI, Zeba will be sent to her husband.&nbsp;

But Zeba does not want to go. She wants to complete her education and be a teacher someday.&nbsp;

Jaba&#39;s story is little different from that of Zeba other than they belong to different religious communities. Jaba&#39;s mother wanted her to be married after the death of her father. Jaba did not, however, elaborate whether such a decision was prompted by reasons of poverty or only a sense of insecurity. My hunch is the death of the male guardian of the family created a sense of terrible insecurity and the mother felt pressurised to give her off in marriage. &nbsp;

Daughters are after all prescribed by Shastraic injunctions to spend the childhood under the tutelage of the father, the adulthood under a husband and old age under the care of the son(s). This care ethics unknowingly breed a sense of dependence and, perhaps more dangerously, a sense of ownership over women. Jaba is a classic example of what misfortune can befall a girl child once she loses the male guardian in her life.&nbsp;

When I asked the organisers as the what prompted them to take up the cudgel against child marriage among all other social evils. Indrani Pancholi pointed out to me that they wanted to locate voices of dissent among sufferers themselves. They wanted the resistance to come from the girls who are suffering because they will be the ones who can best point out what they want.&nbsp;

This brings us back to Jaya who pointed out at the end of the interview to us how her village is witnessing changes that are not grafted from outside but organically efflorescing, courtesy the initiatives of women like her. For instance, Jaya pointed out, women would cover their heads and faces in the past, but they don&#39;t do it anymore.&nbsp;

It did not require a French political system type of ban to prevent women from covering their faces, it came most spontaneously from a sense of empowerment.&nbsp;

Let us hope that this force of social change, emanating from the ground will change the gender dynamics in India not so far in the future.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Social custom is as much to be blamed as poverty for the perpetuation of child marriage in India.

Almost half of all girls in South Asia marry before the age of 18, says UNICEF. One in five girls is married before the age of 15. Bangladesh is the worst offenders in this regard followed by India. Child marriages are most prevalent in rural India, with rates of child marriage being the highest in the central and western parts of India and lower in the eastern and southern parts of the country. While these facts and figures, as a journalist, are not unknown to me, to meet a child bride is a different experience. Discomforting and unnerving too. In a book release ceremony recently organised by HAQ, I came face to face dozen of child brides-most of whom are married but have not met their groom or the in-laws yet. Many of them pointed out to me that they didn't even remember the face of their husband not to mention the marriage ceremony. I have, as the UNICEF does too, always associated the menace of child marriage with the restraints poverty places on an individual family. Recently, the Guardian even carried a report as to how an increasing number of African girl children are getting married off because of climate change, such as drought and flood, crop loss and stunted growth. Thus Africa witnesses a social evil because a drastic environmental change is taking an economic toll on their lives. But poverty is not always the stimulus behind child marriage. As was pointed out to me in so many words by Ayesha. Ayesha comes from a village of Murshidabad. Not necessarily a child of a poor father, Ayesha's family tried to give her off in marriage as per the cultural norms of her community. She repeatedly blames societal norms for the trauma she underwent as a child. From the tender age of 3 months, her father tried to get her married off at least dozen times before she entered her teens. The only silver lining of her story is that all these hardships hardened her resolve to complete her education. She is the only girl from her village who has successfully completed a Masters degree in science. Now Ayesha devotes her time in fighting the curse of child marriage which she claims is still ubiquitous in the villages of Murshidabad. Jaya is another woman who went through the ordeal of getting married at the age of 13. Hailing from a village in Rajasthan, Jaya went through the terrible pain of getting beaten by her in-laws and even her husband. Her voice of protest was stifled and met with further harassment. But Jaya did not give up. Now she is a well-known activist who plays a pivotal role in organising the women against the menace of child marriages. She does not depend on the government or anyone else for her crusade. She has fought for the education of her of own two girls who are now principals of local schools. If these two grown-ups tell us the stories of the lives that have, fortunately, taken a favourable turn over time, though it has exacted a very stiff price in the course, there are many other young girls who still stare at an unknown future. One such fighter is young Zeba. She hails from Rajasthan too. She was given to marriage at the age of 3. Now a student of class XI and already a child rights activist, Zeba asked her mother the reason behind such an act. Her mother's answer was that the family did not have money to marry off all her sisters separately. So her eldest sister who was 16 at that time and Zeba at 3, all were married off together in a pack. Zeba has not met her husband yet. Her parents constantly threaten that at the completion of Class XI, Zeba will be sent to her husband. But Zeba does not want to go. She wants to complete her education and be a teacher someday. Jaba's story is little different from that of Zeba other than they belong to different religious communities. Jaba's mother wanted her to be married after the death of her father. Jaba did not, however, elaborate whether such a decision was prompted by reasons of poverty or only a sense of insecurity. My hunch is the death of the male guardian of the family created a sense of terrible insecurity and the mother felt pressurised to give her off in marriage. Daughters are after all prescribed by Shastraic injunctions to spend the childhood under the tutelage of the father, the adulthood under a husband and old age under the care of the son(s). This care ethics unknowingly breed a sense of dependence and, perhaps more dangerously, a sense of ownership over women. Jaba is a classic example of what misfortune can befall a girl child once she loses the male guardian in her life. When I asked the organisers as the what prompted them to take up the cudgel against child marriage among all other social evils. Indrani Pancholi pointed out to me that they wanted to locate voices of dissent among sufferers themselves. They wanted the resistance to come from the girls who are suffering because they will be the ones who can best point out what they want. This brings us back to Jaya who pointed out at the end of the interview to us how her village is witnessing changes that are not grafted from outside but organically efflorescing, courtesy the initiatives of women like her. For instance, Jaya pointed out, women would cover their heads and faces in the past, but they don't do it anymore. It did not require a French political system type of ban to prevent women from covering their faces, it came most spontaneously from a sense of empowerment. Let us hope that this force of social change, emanating from the ground will change the gender dynamics in India not so far in the future. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: A child needs parents, not a husband

Though know-it-all Google got it wrong this time, Rukhmabai was not India&#39;s first practising female physician, but her life needs to be remembered for the pioneering role she played in underlining the plight of child marriage. It was because of the long arduous journey that she undertook, from fighting legal battles at the courts of India, braving jail terms and in writing to the Empress of India, Queen Victoria, that eventually the Age of Consent Bill was passed. The Bill outlawed child marriages across the British Empire.

But something which was outlawed in 1891 continues to persist in India. The age of consent has been constantly revised through the decades. The first Act had the age moved from 10 to 12 for girls. We need to remember that Rukhmabai, when she appealed to the court for the annulment of her marriage, her argument was that she was a minor when she got married at the age of eleven.&nbsp;

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<h5>The law categorically states that below the age of 18, a girl is not of the age to give consent and, thus, any conjugal relation will be considered as rape.</h5>
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Post-independence with the adoption of the Indian constitution of 1950, and then again with another set of changes in 1978, the age of marriage has come to be settled at 18 for girls. But the Age of Consent is a highly contested issue in India. Not only have many religious groups protested against setting an age bar to a marrying couple, the Child Marriage Act gets violated with impunity every day in India. &nbsp;

According to the 2011 Census, almost 4 per cent of girls getting married fall below the age of 18. Though this is a dramatic drop, considering 47 per cent minors were married off in the year 1998, such figures indicate that millions of girls are still getting married without consent. The law categorically states that below the age of 18, a girl is not of the age to give consent and, thus, any conjugal relation will be considered as rape.

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First practising female doctor in India and a social reformer. (Others)
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Both government and non-governmental organisations studying the situation commented that poverty has a big role to play in the perpetuation of this regressive social custom. Unable to feed, parents often give away their daughters in marriage to much older men. Inextricably linked to poverty is the grave inadequacy of educational opportunities for girls. When girls are not going to school, particularly in rural areas, seemingly the best next options available to them was to get married.

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<h5>When girls are not going to school, particularly in rural areas, seemingly the best next options available to them was to get married.</h5>
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This brings us back to the case of Rukhmabai again. When her husband and in-laws kept pressurising Rukhmabai to join them, she started writing a series of letters in the local newspaper under the pseudonym A Hindu Lady. The letters melted many a heart and garnered a&nbsp;huge amount of support for her cause.

One of the reasons Rukhmabai cited for not wanting to go back to her husband is that she would want to study. &nbsp;Hearing her plea, many came forward to donate. Eventually, &nbsp;a fund was created to support her travel and study in England at the London School of Medicine, 5 years degree course. She subsequently went to England and returned to India as a first qualified physician and worked for many years in Rajkot and Surat.

Rukhmabai&#39;s life became a lesson in service and fight against regressive tradition that pulled back women. Donning a white saree all her life, Rukhmabai will be remembered for &quot;demonstrating (the) courage to intervene against traditions&quot;, as Maharaja of Indore pointed out. Towards the end of her life, she even took up the pen to urge the abolition of Purdah.

(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Rukhmabai should be remembered for the role she played in underlining the plight of child marriage

Though know-it-all Google got it wrong this time, Rukhmabai was not India's first practising female physician, but her life needs to be remembered for the pioneering role she played in underlining the plight of child marriage. It was because of the long arduous journey that she undertook, from fighting legal battles at the courts of India, braving jail terms and in writing to the Empress of India, Queen Victoria, that eventually the Age of Consent Bill was passed. The Bill outlawed child marriages across the British Empire. But something which was outlawed in 1891 continues to persist in India. The age of consent has been constantly revised through the decades. The first Act had the age moved from 10 to 12 for girls. We need to remember that Rukhmabai, when she appealed to the court for the annulment of her marriage, her argument was that she was a minor when she got married at the age of eleven. The law categorically states that below the age of 18, a girl is not of the age to give consent and, thus, any conjugal relation will be considered as rape. × Post-independence with the adoption of the Indian constitution of 1950, and then again with another set of changes in 1978, the age of marriage has come to be settled at 18 for girls. But the Age of Consent is a highly contested issue in India. Not only have many religious groups protested against setting an age bar to a marrying couple, the Child Marriage Act gets violated with impunity every day in India. According to the 2011 Census, almost 4 per cent of girls getting married fall below the age of 18. Though this is a dramatic drop, considering 47 per cent minors were married off in the year 1998, such figures indicate that millions of girls are still getting married without consent. The law categorically states that below the age of 18, a girl is not of the age to give consent and, thus, any conjugal relation will be considered as rape. First practising female doctor in India and a social reformer. (Others) × Both government and non-governmental organisations studying the situation commented that poverty has a big role to play in the perpetuation of this regressive social custom. Unable to feed, parents often give away their daughters in marriage to much older men. Inextricably linked to poverty is the grave inadequacy of educational opportunities for girls. When girls are not going to school, particularly in rural areas, seemingly the best next options available to them was to get married. When girls are not going to school, particularly in rural areas, seemingly the best next options available to them was to get married. × This brings us back to the case of Rukhmabai again. When her husband and in-laws kept pressurising Rukhmabai to join them, she started writing a series of letters in the local newspaper under the pseudonym A Hindu Lady. The letters melted many a heart and garnered a huge amount of support for her cause. One of the reasons Rukhmabai cited for not wanting to go back to her husband is that she would want to study. Hearing her plea, many came forward to donate. Eventually, a fund was created to support her travel and study in England at the London School of Medicine, 5 years degree course. She subsequently went to England and returned to India as a first qualified physician and worked for many years in Rajkot and Surat. Rukhmabai's life became a lesson in service and fight against regressive tradition that pulled back women. Donning a white saree all her life, Rukhmabai will be remembered for "demonstrating (the) courage to intervene against traditions", as Maharaja of Indore pointed out. Towards the end of her life, she even took up the pen to urge the abolition of Purdah. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: With 71 mn child marriages, we need more Rukhmabais

In a landmark verdict, India&#39;s top court has declared that sex&nbsp;with wife between 15 and 18 years of age will be considered rape and be a punishable offence under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). 
 
The Supreme Court of India overturned an exception clause in the rape law that permits sexual intercourse between a man and his wife who is underage&nbsp;but above 15 years of age and said the law was &quot;discriminatory,&nbsp;capricious and arbitrary.&quot;

The bench clarified that it has not dealt with the issue of marital rape as it was not raised before it by the parties.

Expressing concern over the practice of child marriage in the country, a&nbsp;bench comprising Justice Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said&nbsp;social justice laws in the country had not been implemented with the spirit they have been enacted.&nbsp;

Justice Gupta, who wrote a separate but concurrent verdict, said the age of marriage was 18 in all laws and the exception clause was &quot;capricious, arbitrary and violates the rights of a girl child&quot;. 
 
The exception in rape law under the IPC is contrary to the philosophy of other statutes, and violates bodily integrity of girl child, the Supreme Court said.

The apex court said the exception is violative of Article 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution.

It asked the Centre and the states to take proactive steps to prohibit child marriage across the country.

It voiced concern over thousands of minor girls being married in mass wedding ceremonies on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya.

The top court gave its verdict on a petition by an NGO,&nbsp;Independent Thought,&nbsp;challenging the validity of an exception clause (2) in Section 375 of the IPC that states that intercourse or sexual act by a man with his wife, not below 15 years, is not rape.

The petition contended that this created a dichotomy as the age of consent was 18 years and it also defeated the purpose of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.&nbsp;

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) considers sex with children (those below 18 years of age) as rape.

The&nbsp;bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur had on September 6 had reserved its order in the case.

The top court gave its verdict on a petition challenging the validity of an exception clause in the rape law which permits sexual intercourse between a man and his wife who is not below 15 years.

In a landmark verdict, India's top court has declared that sex with wife between 15 and 18 years of age will be considered rape and be a punishable offence under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The Supreme Court of India overturned an exception clause in the rape law that permits sexual intercourse between a man and his wife who is underage but above 15 years of age and said the law was "discriminatory, capricious and arbitrary." The bench clarified that it has not dealt with the issue of marital rape as it was not raised before it by the parties. Expressing concern over the practice of child marriage in the country, a bench comprising Justice Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said social justice laws in the country had not been implemented with the spirit they have been enacted. Justice Gupta, who wrote a separate but concurrent verdict, said the age of marriage was 18 in all laws and the exception clause was "capricious, arbitrary and violates the rights of a girl child". The exception in rape law under the IPC is contrary to the philosophy of other statutes, and violates bodily integrity of girl child, the Supreme Court said. The apex court said the exception is violative of Article 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution. It asked the Centre and the states to take proactive steps to prohibit child marriage across the country. It voiced concern over thousands of minor girls being married in mass wedding ceremonies on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya. The top court gave its verdict on a petition by an NGO, Independent Thought, challenging the validity of an exception clause (2) in Section 375 of the IPC that states that intercourse or sexual act by a man with his wife, not below 15 years, is not rape. The petition contended that this created a dichotomy as the age of consent was 18 years and it also defeated the purpose of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) considers sex with children (those below 18 years of age) as rape. The bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur had on September 6 had reserved its order in the case.

Sex with wife under 18 is rape: Supreme Court

About 2.9 million&nbsp;children in the age group of 10-14 years were reported married between 2001 and 2011, according to a report released by the country&#39;s apex child rights body today.

The report by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), based on Census 2011, is a statistical analysis of prevalence of such marriages, their genesis and geographical spread. It was released by Supreme Court judge Justice A K Sikri.

It states that despite the decline in child marriage, particularly in the age group of 10-14 years, there are 1.1 million boys and 1.8 million girls who were reported married in this age group between 2001-2011.

&quot;Child marriage violates the dignity of the child and is a major human rights violation. There are incongruities in different laws of the country dealing with child marriage and I urge lawmakers to address these disparities so that the social evil of child marriage is curbed. The NCPCR should tie up with the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to conduct seminars in the target states with the help of paralegal volunteers,&quot; Justice Sikri said.

The analysis of the Census 2011 data identified 70 districts spread across 13 states with high rate of child marriages. 
These states are Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Though 13 districts in Rajasthan continue to figure prominently amongst the highest incidence districts with respect to child marriage, all these districts other than Banswara show a positive declining trend in child marriage over the decade.

Urban districts such as Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, Rangareddy and Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh and Davangere in Karnataka reveal an increase in marriage of girls below the legal age during the period.

Anand in Gujarat, Davangere in Karnataka and Dakshin Dinajpur in West Bengal are the districts where despite decrease in population between 2001 and 2011, incidence of child marriage among boys increased.

Women and child development ministry secretary Rakesh Srivastava said that the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-4 reported a decline in child marriage to 26 per cent from 47 per cent in NFHS-3, and hoped that NFHS-5 will find further decline in such marriages.

&quot;Recently Karnataka has amended the Prevention of Child Marriage Act, 2005 to make child marriage void and hoped that other states will follow suit. The NCPCR should conduct seminars and workshops in collaboration with the governments in the 13 states where child marriage is markedly prevalent,&quot; said Srivastava.

Analysing the reason behind child marriages, the NCPCR report states that girls in particular are married off because they are considered as &quot;paraya dhan&quot;&nbsp;or somebody else&#39;s wealth, and is often used by families to ensure that the girls is protected from premarital sex, pregnancy outside of marriage and the need to preserve &quot;family honour&quot;.

&quot;Girl children from poor households are at higher risk of becoming child brides. Where resources are limited, gendered social risks become more acute and opportunities more constrained, forcing parents to make decisions which disadvantage girls,&quot; the report states.

The report has also made a slew of recommendations to combat child marriages. Promoting free and compulsory secondary education, compulsory registration of marriages, mobilisation of religious leaders and community elders are some of the interventions proposed in the report.

(PTI)

The report states that girls in particular are married off because they are considered as 'paraya dhan'?or somebody else's wealth

About 2.9 million children in the age group of 10-14 years were reported married between 2001 and 2011, according to a report released by the country's apex child rights body today. The report by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), based on Census 2011, is a statistical analysis of prevalence of such marriages, their genesis and geographical spread. It was released by Supreme Court judge Justice A K Sikri. It states that despite the decline in child marriage, particularly in the age group of 10-14 years, there are 1.1 million boys and 1.8 million girls who were reported married in this age group between 2001-2011. "Child marriage violates the dignity of the child and is a major human rights violation. There are incongruities in different laws of the country dealing with child marriage and I urge lawmakers to address these disparities so that the social evil of child marriage is curbed. The NCPCR should tie up with the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to conduct seminars in the target states with the help of paralegal volunteers," Justice Sikri said. The analysis of the Census 2011 data identified 70 districts spread across 13 states with high rate of child marriages. These states are Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Though 13 districts in Rajasthan continue to figure prominently amongst the highest incidence districts with respect to child marriage, all these districts other than Banswara show a positive declining trend in child marriage over the decade. Urban districts such as Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, Rangareddy and Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh and Davangere in Karnataka reveal an increase in marriage of girls below the legal age during the period. Anand in Gujarat, Davangere in Karnataka and Dakshin Dinajpur in West Bengal are the districts where despite decrease in population between 2001 and 2011, incidence of child marriage among boys increased. Women and child development ministry secretary Rakesh Srivastava said that the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-4 reported a decline in child marriage to 26 per cent from 47 per cent in NFHS-3, and hoped that NFHS-5 will find further decline in such marriages. "Recently Karnataka has amended the Prevention of Child Marriage Act, 2005 to make child marriage void and hoped that other states will follow suit. The NCPCR should conduct seminars and workshops in collaboration with the governments in the 13 states where child marriage is markedly prevalent," said Srivastava. Analysing the reason behind child marriages, the NCPCR report states that girls in particular are married off because they are considered as "paraya dhan" or somebody else's wealth, and is often used by families to ensure that the girls is protected from premarital sex, pregnancy outside of marriage and the need to preserve "family honour". "Girl children from poor households are at higher risk of becoming child brides. Where resources are limited, gendered social risks become more acute and opportunities more constrained, forcing parents to make decisions which disadvantage girls," the report states. The report has also made a slew of recommendations to combat child marriages. Promoting free and compulsory secondary education, compulsory registration of marriages, mobilisation of religious leaders and community elders are some of the interventions proposed in the report. (PTI)

In India, 2.9 million children got married between 10-14 years of age between 2001-2011: Report

Brishti was 16 when she got married to the man she had an affair with. They both worked at a garment factory in Dhaka. Two years later her husband left her. By then she had already conceived. At 19 she&#39;s a single mother to a daughter. 
&nbsp; 
&ldquo;I was married at 16, I conceived at 18 and my husband left me at 19. When my husband was there I had no trouble. After my husband left, I have been living with my daughter with a lot of difficulties and I cannot work,&rdquo; Brishti shares with WION.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FHm4-IG6KeM" width="560"></iframe> 
&nbsp;

Bangladesh has legislated a Child Marriage Restraint Act 2017 on February 27 that can make Brishti&rsquo;s condition common for many girl children.

The Child Marriage Restraint Act, which dates back to 1929, stipulates the legal marriageable age for girls as 18 years. A draft of this law in 2014 initially proposed to make legal marriage age for girls at 16 under special circumstances.

Two years later, a revision in the law has stipulated the minimum age for marriage as 18 for females and 21 for males but with a provision that marriage below those ages can be legalised with the consent of the legitimate guardian and the court. 
&nbsp; 
The government says it has made the changes keeping &ldquo;reality&rdquo; in mind and circumstances when abortion for young girls is not an option. 
&nbsp; 
The women and children affairs minister Meher Afroz Chumki told WION that all ambiguity will become clear after rules for the provision are laid out. 
&nbsp; 
&quot;They think we are excusing everyone through this provision but really it is not so. We have brought this up after observing the social circumstances,&rdquo; she said. 
&nbsp; 
Legal experts fear that without much transparency about the kind of special circumstances that are being considered, this exception can be exploited. 
&nbsp; 
Asked about conditions for such special circumstances, Chumki said, &ldquo;We will make exceptions for people with special needs. In many cases, they are without guardians and have other difficulties. Under those circumstances, if they are married, it helps the family. In disaster-prone areas, women&#39;s security remains extremely vulnerable. We cannot resolve everything at this time, which is why we will make some exceptions but we will do them by discussing.&rdquo; 
&nbsp; 
Legal experts say the purpose of such a provision is still incomprehensible. None of the marriage laws, whether religious or civil, invalidate a marriage irrespective of whether they are legal or illegal, said Sara Hossain, a prominent Supreme Court lawyer. 
&nbsp; 
Understandably, the legitimacy of the marriage will prevent jail terms for those involved in pursuing it including the groom. However, the law is feared to give sex offenders a leeway where families of the victims of sexual violence consider marrying off their daughter to the offender as a way of escaping the social stigma. 
&nbsp; 
&ldquo;You could conceive of a situation where parents or guardians try to get their daughter married off to a person even though he has committed rape or sexual assault on her in order to reduce what they see is the social stigma and they could then try and use this exception perhaps,&rdquo; said Hossain. 
&nbsp; 
Bangladesh is applauded for reducing child mortality, increasing primary school enrolment and empowering women through awareness, education and legal protection. 
&nbsp; 
&quot;The exception might go against a lot of the high-level commitment we have seen in Bangladesh in trying to end violence against women, particularly sexual violence. It may end up being a weapon, which is used by those who will further such forms of violence or cover-up such forms of violence,&rdquo; Hossain, who is also the honorary executive director of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, told WION. 
&nbsp; 
Bangladesh is reported to have one of the highest prevalence of child marriage. A report by the UNICEF titled &ldquo;The State of the World&rsquo;s Children 2015: Executive Summary&rdquo; states 65 per cent of girls in Bangladesh were married by 18 and 29 percent were married by 15. 
Chumki said her government has made provisions to penalise offenders of child marriage with imprisonment for two years and fine for $625 not to encourage child marriage. The new provision, however, creates much ambiguity. 
&nbsp; 
Although many girls suffer the plight of Brishti in Bangladesh in the absence of adequate child protection mechanisms, this new provision may become an instrument to protect sex offenders and put child marriage in the country under the carpet.

(WION)

A new provision says girls under 18 can get married under 'special circumstances'

Brishti was 16 when she got married to the man she had an affair with. They both worked at a garment factory in Dhaka. Two years later her husband left her. By then she had already conceived. At 19 she's a single mother to a daughter. “I was married at 16, I conceived at 18 and my husband left me at 19. When my husband was there I had no trouble. After my husband left, I have been living with my daughter with a lot of difficulties and I cannot work,” Brishti shares with WION. Bangladesh has legislated a Child Marriage Restraint Act 2017 on February 27 that can make Brishti’s condition common for many girl children. The Child Marriage Restraint Act, which dates back to 1929, stipulates the legal marriageable age for girls as 18 years. A draft of this law in 2014 initially proposed to make legal marriage age for girls at 16 under special circumstances. Two years later, a revision in the law has stipulated the minimum age for marriage as 18 for females and 21 for males but with a provision that marriage below those ages can be legalised with the consent of the legitimate guardian and the court. The government says it has made the changes keeping “reality” in mind and circumstances when abortion for young girls is not an option. The women and children affairs minister Meher Afroz Chumki told WION that all ambiguity will become clear after rules for the provision are laid out. "They think we are excusing everyone through this provision but really it is not so. We have brought this up after observing the social circumstances,” she said. Legal experts fear that without much transparency about the kind of special circumstances that are being considered, this exception can be exploited. Asked about conditions for such special circumstances, Chumki said, “We will make exceptions for people with special needs. In many cases, they are without guardians and have other difficulties. Under those circumstances, if they are married, it helps the family. In disaster-prone areas, women's security remains extremely vulnerable. We cannot resolve everything at this time, which is why we will make some exceptions but we will do them by discussing.” Legal experts say the purpose of such a provision is still incomprehensible. None of the marriage laws, whether religious or civil, invalidate a marriage irrespective of whether they are legal or illegal, said Sara Hossain, a prominent Supreme Court lawyer. Understandably, the legitimacy of the marriage will prevent jail terms for those involved in pursuing it including the groom. However, the law is feared to give sex offenders a leeway where families of the victims of sexual violence consider marrying off their daughter to the offender as a way of escaping the social stigma. “You could conceive of a situation where parents or guardians try to get their daughter married off to a person even though he has committed rape or sexual assault on her in order to reduce what they see is the social stigma and they could then try and use this exception perhaps,” said Hossain. Bangladesh is applauded for reducing child mortality, increasing primary school enrolment and empowering women through awareness, education and legal protection. "The exception might go against a lot of the high-level commitment we have seen in Bangladesh in trying to end violence against women, particularly sexual violence. It may end up being a weapon, which is used by those who will further such forms of violence or cover-up such forms of violence,” Hossain, who is also the honorary executive director of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, told WION. Bangladesh is reported to have one of the highest prevalence of child marriage. A report by the UNICEF titled “The State of the World’s Children 2015: Executive Summary” states 65 per cent of girls in Bangladesh were married by 18 and 29 percent were married by 15. Chumki said her government has made provisions to penalise offenders of child marriage with imprisonment for two years and fine for $625 not to encourage child marriage. The new provision, however, creates much ambiguity. Although many girls suffer the plight of Brishti in Bangladesh in the absence of adequate child protection mechanisms, this new provision may become an instrument to protect sex offenders and put child marriage in the country under the carpet. (WION)

Bangladesh adds loophole to law against underage marriage

More than 700 million women got married before the age of 18, according to a UK-based NGO <a href="http://www.savethechildren.org/atf/cf/%7B9def2ebe-10ae-432c-9bd0-df91d2eba74a%7D/EVERY%20LAST%20GIRL%20REPORT%20FINAL.PDF">Save The Children</a>.

A little over 230 million women got married before they turned 15, the report said, underscoring the scourge of child marriage in various parts of the world.

The problem is worse in developing nations as one in three girls get married before the age of 18.

The findings suggest that an estimated 70,000 adolescent girls die due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth.

Child marriage remains widespread in several communities despite the practice being deemed illegal and viewed as a human rights violation by the United Nations.

Such marriages trigger a vicious circle for women as most girls who get married under the age of 18 do not continue with their education. Lack of education not only undermines the girl&#39;s future but also limits the country&#39;s national economy, the report said.

Girls who get married before 18 also face the threat of domestic violence, marital rape&nbsp;and the likelihood of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, the report stated.

Despite the UN deeming it as a crime, seven countries do not have any law to prevent underage marriages. About 30 countries allow girls&nbsp;to get married at the age of 14 with parental approval.

African nations of Chad, Niger, Central African Republic, Mali and Somalia are considered to be hardest places for a girl to be brought up in, as per Save The Children index.

South Asian countries do not fare well either. In India, 47 per cent of women are married off before they turn 18, according to UNICEF. In Bangladesh and Pakistan, UNICEF pegs the number at 65 per cent and 21 per cent respectively.

(WION)

A UK-based NGO's findings suggest that an estimated 70,000 adolescent girls die due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth

More than 700 million women got married before the age of 18, according to a UK-based NGO Save The Children. A little over 230 million women got married before they turned 15, the report said, underscoring the scourge of child marriage in various parts of the world. The problem is worse in developing nations as one in three girls get married before the age of 18. The findings suggest that an estimated 70,000 adolescent girls die due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth. Child marriage remains widespread in several communities despite the practice being deemed illegal and viewed as a human rights violation by the United Nations. Such marriages trigger a vicious circle for women as most girls who get married under the age of 18 do not continue with their education. Lack of education not only undermines the girl's future but also limits the country's national economy, the report said. Girls who get married before 18 also face the threat of domestic violence, marital rape and the likelihood of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, the report stated. Despite the UN deeming it as a crime, seven countries do not have any law to prevent underage marriages. About 30 countries allow girls to get married at the age of 14 with parental approval. African nations of Chad, Niger, Central African Republic, Mali and Somalia are considered to be hardest places for a girl to be brought up in, as per Save The Children index. South Asian countries do not fare well either. In India, 47 per cent of women are married off before they turn 18, according to UNICEF. In Bangladesh and Pakistan, UNICEF pegs the number at 65 per cent and 21 per cent respectively. (WION)

700 million women married before age of 18: Report

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