3ODQ $VLD 5HJLRQDO 2IĂ€FH
Plan / Bernice Wong
Asia Child Marriage Initiative: 6XPPDU\ RI 5HVHDUFK LQ %DQJODGHVK India and Nepal
1
7DEOH RI FRQWHQWV Table of contents ...............................................................................................................................................................2 List of acronyms.................................................................................................................................................................4 Foreword..............................................................................................................................................................................5 Acknowledgements..........................................................................................................................................................6 Executive summary...........................................................................................................................................................7 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................11 Asia Child Marriage Initiative (ACMI) ......................................................................................................................12 Status of child marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal...................................................................................12 %DQJODGHVK .....................................................................................................................................................................12 India .................................................................................................................................................................................13 Nepal ...............................................................................................................................................................................13 Plan’s programmes in Bangladesh, India and Nepal: linkages to child marriage .......................................14 3ODQ %DQJODGHVK ............................................................................................................................................................14 Plan India ........................................................................................................................................................................14 Plan Nepal ......................................................................................................................................................................14 Current study....................................................................................................................................................................15 2EMHFWLYHV DQG UHVHDUFK TXHVWLRQV ............................................................................................................................15 Methodology .................................................................................................................................................................16 Limitations......................................................................................................................................................................16 Discussion of the NH\ ÀQGLQJV ....................................................................................................................................17 7KH FDXVHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH ......................................................................................................................................17 Tradition and the role of the family in FKLOG PDUULDJH .......................................................................................17 3RYHUW\ DQG FKLOG PDUULDJH ....................................................................................................................................18 (GXFDWLRQ DQG FKLOG PDUULDJH ................................................................................................................................19 Role of FKLOGUHQ LQ FKLOG PDUULDJH ........................................................................................................................ 20 Engagement in paid work DQG FKLOG PDUULDJH .................................................................................................. 21 &RQWH[W VSHFLÀF IDFWRUV GHPRJUDSKLF shifts ..................................................................................................... 21 3UHYHQWLRQ RI FKLOG PDUULDJH ..................................................................................................................................... 22 3HUFHSWLRQ RI JLUOV ER\V DQG SDUHQWV .................................................................................................................. 22 3HUFHSWLRQ RI FRPPXQLW\ OHDGHUV DQG JRYHUQPHQW RIÀFLDOV .......................................................................... 22 Cases of FKLOG PDUULDJH SUHYHQWHG ...................................................................................................................... 23 Role model girls and parents FDVHV RI SRVLWLYH GHYLDQFH .................................................................................... 24
2
Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal
Plan’s Child-Centred Community Development interventions and their effectiveness .............................. 25 3ODQ %DQJODGHVK .......................................................................................................................................................... 25 Plan Nepal .................................................................................................................................................................... 25 Plan India ...................................................................................................................................................................... 25 Successful strategies adopted by Plan .................................................................................................................... 26 Children’s organisations ............................................................................................................................................. 26 Partnering with government DQG FLYLO VRFLHW\ ....................................................................................................... 26 (QJDJLQJ ZLWK FRPPXQLW\ OHDGHUV .......................................................................................................................... 26 5DLVLQJ DZDUHQHVV DERXW FKLOG PDUULDJH DV D YLRODWLRQ RI FKLOG ULJKWV ............................................................... 26 )DFLOLWDWLQJ VHFRQGDU\ HGXFDWLRQ .............................................................................................................................. 26 Employing girls in paid work outside the house ................................................................................................... 26 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Recommendations ........................................................................................................................................................ 29 For programming ........................................................................................................................................................ 29 )RU SROLF\ ....................................................................................................................................................................... 32 Areas for future research............................................................................................................................................. 33 Links between girls’ engagement in paid work and delaying marriage ........................................................... 33 )DFWRUV WKDW VXSSRUW FRQWLQXDWLRQ RI JLUOV· HGXFDWLRQ DIWHU PDUULDJH ................................................................ 33 Self-initiated FKLOG PDUULDJHV ..................................................................................................................................... 33 References ........................................................................................................................................................................ 34 Endnotes ........................................................................................................................................................................... 35
3
/LVW RI DFURQ\PV
4
$&35
$VVRFLDWHV IRU &RPPXQLW\ DQG 3RSXODWLRQ 5HVHDUFK
ACMI
Asia Child Marriage Initiative
%,$$*
%HFDXVH , DP D *LUO
%/23
%HWWHU /LIH 2SWLRQV 3URJUDPPH
CCCD
Child-Centred Community Development
CMHP
Community Managed Health Programme
&%2
&RPPXQLW\ %DVHG 2UJDQLVDWLRQ
&2V
&RXQWU\ 2IÀFHV 3ODQ
'+6
'HPRJUDSKLF DQG +HDOWK 6XUYH\
)*'
)RFXV *URXS 'LVFXVVLRQ
*(06
*HQGHU (TXLW\ 0RYHPHQW LQ 6FKRROV
,&''5 %
,QWHUQDWLRQDO &HQWUH IRU 'LDUUKRHDO 'LVHDVH 5HVHDUFK %DQJODGHVK
,&5:
,QWHUQDWLRQDO &HQWHU IRU 5HVHDUFK RQ :RPHQ
KII
Key Informant Interview
/*,
/RFDO *RYHUQPHQW ,QVWLWXWLRQV
1*2
1RQ *RYHUQPHQWDO 2UJDQL]DWLRQ
UN
United Nations
UNICEF
United Nations Children's Fund
VDC
Village Development Committee
WHO
:RUOG +HDOWK 2UJDQL]DWLRQ
Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal
Foreword Child marriage is one of the most prevalent and serious violations of human rights. The issue needs urgent DWWHQWLRQ LQ 6RXWK $VLD ZKHUH SHU FHQW RI FKLOGUHQ DUH PDUULHG IRUPDOO\ RU LQ LQIRUPDO XQLRQ EHIRUH WKH\ DUH *LUOV DUH VLJQLÀFDQWO\ PRUH OLNHO\ WKDQ ER\V WR EH PDUULHG DV FKLOGUHQ ² SHU FHQW RI JLUOV DJHG \HDUV DUH FXUUHQWO\ PDUULHG RU LQ XQLRQ LQ 6RXWK $VLD FRPSDUHG WR MXVW SHU FHQW RI ER\V LQ WKH VDPH DJH EUDFNHW1. 6R ZK\ GRHV FKLOG PDUULDJH KDSSHQ ZKHQ ZH NQRZ WKDW WKH VRFLDO HFRQRPLF DQG KXPDQ FRVWV DUH VR KLJK" 7KH DQVZHU OLHV LQ KRZ GHHSO\ URRWHG FKLOG PDUULDJH LV LQ WKH VRFLDO QRUPV RI PDQ\ VRFLHWLHV IXHOOHG E\ WUDGLWLRQ UHOLJLRQ DQG SRYHUW\ $ZDUHQHVV RI WKH OHJDOLWLHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH ² LW·V RXWODZHG LQ PRVW FRXQWULHV DURXQG WKH ZRUOG ²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·V DGXOW OLIH DQG LQWR WKH QH[W JHQHUDWLRQ 3ODQ ,QWHUQDWLRQDO·V JOREDO %HFDXVH , DP D *LUO %,$$* FDPSDLJQ IRFXVHV RQ FKLOG PDUULDJH DV D NH\ EDUULHU WR SURJUHVV LQ FKLOG ULJKWV &KLOG 0DUULDJH DQG *LUOV· (GXFDWLRQ ² 3ODQ·V ÀUVW JOREDO UHSRUW RQ WKLV LVVXH ² IRFXVHV RQ WKH OLQNV EHWZHHQ WKHVH WZR FULWLFDO DUHDV RI FKLOG GHYHORSPHQW ,Q $VLD 3ODQ KDV GHVLJQHG WKH $VLD &KLOG 0DUULDJH ,QLWLDWLYH $&0, WR KHOS SUHYHQW FKLOG PDUULDJH DQG PLWLJDWH LWV QHJDWLYH FRQVHTXHQFHV RQ FKLOGUHQ IDPLOLHV DQG FRPPXQLWLHV 3ODQ KDV ZRUNHG FORVHO\ ZLWK WKH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO &HQWHU IRU 5HVHDUFK RQ :RPHQ ,&5: RQ WKH TXDOLWDWLYH VWXG\ SUHVHQWHG KHUH WR JLYH FKLOG PDUULDJH WKH DWWHQWLRQ LW GHVHUYHV DQG KHOS XV EHWWHU XQGHUVWDQG ZKHUH ZH·UH DW ZLWK WKH LVVXH LQ ,QGLD 1HSDO DQG %DQJODGHVK 7KH VWXG\ EULQJV RXW WKH LQÁXHQFH RI JHQGHU QRUPV DQG WKHLU LQWHUSOD\ ZLWK WKH DVSLUDWLRQV RI JLUOV DQG WKHLU IDPLOLHV 7KH SUREH LQWR WKH UROH RI YLOODJH EDVHG LQVWLWXWLRQV DQG FKLOGUHQ·V RUJDQLVDWLRQV KDV JLYHQ YDOXDEOH LQVLJKW LQWR KRZ FRPPXQLWLHV FDQ EH HQJDJHG WR EH SDUW RI WKH VROXWLRQ 6RPH HPHUJLQJ WUHQGV OLNH FKLOG LQLWLDWHG PDUULDJHV KDYH DOVR EHHQ XQHDUWKHG E\ WKH VWXG\ DQG WKHVH ZLOO UHTXLUH IXUWKHU LQYHVWLJDWLRQ 7KLV VWXG\ ZRXOG QRW KDYH EHHQ SRVVLEOH ZLWKRXW WKH YDOXDEOH FROODERUDWLYH DQG FROOHFWLYH UROH SOD\HG E\ ,&5: DQG 3ODQ·V &RXQWU\ 2IÀFHV LQ ,QGLD 1HSDO DQG %DQJODGHVK DV ZHOO DV WKH UHJLRQDO WHDP , EHOLHYH WKLV VWXG\ SURYLGHV H[FHOOHQW PDWHULDO IRU DQ\RQH FRPPLWWHG WR VWRSSLQJ FKLOG PDUULDJH
MARK PIERCE 5(*,21$/ ',5(&725 3/$1 $6,$ 5(*,21$/ 2)),&(
1
81,&() JOREDO GDWDEDVHV %DVHG RQ '+6 0,&6 DQG RWKHU QDWLRQDO VXUYH\V 5
$FNQRZOHGJHPHQWV 7KLV VWXG\ FRQWULEXWHV WR WKH JURZLQJ XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI WKH FDXVHV DQG FRQVHTXHQFHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH DQG WKH IDFWRUV WKDW FRQWULEXWH WR LWV UHGXFWLRQ 7KH 3ODQ $VLD 5HJLRQDO 2IÀFH LQYLWHG WKH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO &HQWHU IRU 5HVHDUFK RQ :RPHQ ,&5: WR FDUU\ RXW WKLV WKUHH FRXQWU\ VWXG\ LQ %DQJODGHVK ,QGLD DQG 1HSDO $W WKH ,&5: WKH VWXG\ ZDV OHG E\ 5DYL 9HUPD DQG VXSSRUWHG E\ 7DUD 6LQKD DQG 7LQD .KDQQD 7KH VWXG\ EHQHÀWWHG JUHDWO\ IURP WKH WHFKQLFDO VXSSRUW SURYLGHG E\ WKH 3ODQ $VLD 5HJLRQDO 2IÀFH DQG WKUHH 3ODQ &RXQWU\ 2IÀFHV &2V :H ZRXOG OLNH WR WKDQN &DURO %RHQGHU 0\UQD (YRUD DQG 7DQXVKUHH 6RQL IRU WKHLU VXSSRUW DQG JXLGDQFH RQ WKLV SURMHFW $W 3ODQ %DQJODGHVK WKDQNV DUH GXH WR $PLQD 0DKEXE =LQQDW $IUR]H 6DQ]HHGD 3DUYHHQ DQG $ZODG +RVVDLQ :H ZRXOG OLNH WR WKDQN $EKLMLW 3UDEKXJKDWH 6DSQD 5DZDW DQG 0HHQD 1DUXOD DW 3ODQ ,QGLD DQG 5DPHVKZDUML DW 8UPXO 6(78 $W 3ODQ 1HSDO VSHFLDO WKDQNV WR .ULVKQD .XPDU 6KUHVWKD 0DGKXZDQWL 7XODGKDU DQG 6KXVLO -RVKL IRU SURYLGLQJ WKHLU VXSSRUW WKURXJKRXW WKH VWXG\ SHULRG :H DSSUHFLDWH WKH WKRXJKWIXO FRPPHQWV IURP WKH 3ODQ $VLD 5HJLRQDO 2IÀFH DQG &2V RQ WKH GUDIW YHUVLRQ RI WKLV UHSRUW :H ZRXOG DOVR OLNH WR WKDQN RXU ,&5: FROOHDJXHV 5XFKLND 3UDVHQMLW DQG 9HQJDWHVK IRU SURYLGLQJ DGPLQLVWUDWLYH ÀQDQFLDO DQG ORJLVWLF VXSSRUW WKURXJKRXW WKH VWXG\ SHULRG 0RVW LPSRUWDQWO\ ZH ZRXOG HVSHFLDOO\ OLNH WR WKDQN DOO WKH UHVSRQGHQWV RI WKH VWXG\ IRU JLYLQJ WKHLU SUHFLRXV WLPH DQG VKDULQJ WKHLU NQRZOHGJH DQG H[SHULHQFHV ZLWKRXW ZKLFK WKLV VWXG\ ZRXOG QRW KDYH EHHQ SRVVLEOH
Ravi Verma 7DUD 6LQKD Tina Khanna
6
New Delhi -DQXDU\
Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal
([HFXWLYH VXPPDU\ 7KLV VWXG\ RQ FKLOG PDUULDJH LQ %DQJODGHVK ,QGLD DQG 1HSDO H[SORUHV WKH SHUFHSWLRQV RI GLIIHUHQW VWDNHKROGHUV DERXW WKH FDXVHV DQG FRQVHTXHQFHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH DQG WKH HIÀFDF\ RI 3ODQ·V SURJUDPPLQJ LQ DGGUHVVLQJ WKHVH IDFWRUV 7KH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO &HQWHU IRU 5HVHDUFK RQ :RPHQ ,&5: FDUULHG RXW WKH VWXG\ IRU 3ODQ·V $VLD 5HJLRQDO 2IÀFH
Background &KLOG PDUULDJH UDWHV LQ 6RXWK $VLD DUH WKH VHFRQG KLJKHVW LQ WKH ZRUOG EHKLQG RQO\ :HVW $IULFD ,Q WHUPV RI QXPEHUV RQH KDOI RI DOO JLUOV DIIHFWHG E\ FKLOG PDUULDJH UHVLGH LQ 6RXWK $VLD 3ODQ·V $VLD &KLOG 0DUULDJH ,QLWLDWLYH $&0, LV D PXOWL FRXQWU\ LQLWLDWLYH VWDUWHG LQ 7KLV LQLWLDWLYH DLPV WR SUHYHQW FKLOG PDUULDJH DQG PLWLJDWH LWV QHJDWLYH FRQVHTXHQFHV E\ XQGHUVWDQGLQJ WKH SUDFWLFHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH DQG H[SORULQJ SDWKZD\V IRU DGGUHVVLQJ WKH LVVXH 0DUULDJH RI FKLOGUHQ OHVV WKDQ \HDUV KDV EHHQ OHJDOO\ SURKLELWHG LQ DOO WKUHH FRXQWULHV \HW SUHYDOHQFH UHPDLQV KLJK 3ODQ·V SURJUDPPHV LQ %DQJODGHVK ,QGLD DQG 1HSDO DGGUHVV WKH SUREOHP RI FKLOG PDUULDJH LQ GLIIHUHQW ZD\V 3ODQ %DQJODGHVK DLPV WR LQFUHDVH WKH PHDQ DJH RI marriage from 15-18 years and works with the national government to strengthen online birth registration DQG HQIRUFHPHQW RI WKH &KLOG 0DUULDJH 5HVWUDLQW $FW RI 3ODQ ,QGLD·V JRDO LV WR LPSURYH NQRZOHGJH DWWLWXGHV DQG SUDFWLFHV LQ UHJDUG WR FKLOG PDUULDJH DQG WUDFN WKH SHUFHQWDJH RI FKLOG PDUULDJHV LQ LWV ZRUNLQJ DUHDV 3ODQ 1HSDO VHHV FKLOG PDUULDJH DV DQ DVSHFW RI JHQGHU EDVHG YLROHQFH DQG DLPV WR EXLOG WKH FDSDFLW\ DQG FRPPLWPHQW RI FKLOGUHQ WKHLU IDPLOLHV DQG FRPPXQLWLHV WR HOLPLQDWH WKH SUDFWLFH
Methodology 7KH FXUUHQW VWXG\ LV EDVHG RQ SULPDU\ TXDOLWDWLYH GDWD JDWKHUHG IURP LQ GHSWK LQWHUYLHZV DQG IRFXV JURXS GLVFXVVLRQV ZLWK JLUOV DQG ER\V SDUHQWV FRPPXQLW\ OHDGHUV DQG JRYHUQPHQW RIÀ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
.H\ ÀQGLQJV ‡ &DXVHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH &KLOG PDUULDJH RFFXUV GXH WR YDULRXV QRUPDWLYH DQG VWUXFWXUDO IDFWRUV VXFK DV WUDGLWLRQ IDPLOLDO HFRQRPLF VLWXDWLRQ DQG RSSRUWXQLWLHV DYDLODEOH WR ZRPHQ 7KH WUDGLWLRQDO FDXVHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH LQ DOO WKUHH FRXQWULHV DUH IDLUO\ VLPLODU DQG DUH URRWHG LQ VRFLDO YDOXHV DQG QRUPV 0DUULDJH LV FRQVLGHUHG QHFHVVDU\ DQG LQHYLWDEOH E\ FKLOGUHQ DQG DGXOWV ,W LV WKH SDUHQW·V UHVSRQVLELOLW\ WR PDUU\ WKHLU GDXJKWHUV DQG SURWHFW WKHLU FKDVWLW\ XQWLO WKH\ DUH PDUULHG )HDU RI VH[XDO YLROHQFH RQ WKH RQH KDQG DQG JLUOV FKRRVLQJ WR EHJLQ VH[XDO DFWLYLW\ RQ WKH RWKHU KDQG OHDG WR FKLOG PDUULDJH RI GDXJKWHUV 7KH SULPDU\ role for women is seen as that of wife and mother. Parents therefore see little merit in delaying a girl’s PDUULDJH RQFH VKH UHDFKHV SXEHUW\
Plan
Geeta (left) from Nepal is 15 years old and has an 8-month-old baby. She was married in May 2011 while studying in grade 5. These days, Geeta is unable to go to school because she must take care of her child, but she still takes part in social activities in her community.
7
Plan
Plan
Plan / Bernice Wong
*LUOV LQ SRRUHU IDPLOLHV DUH PRUH YXOQHUDEOH WR FKLOG PDUULDJH GXH WR PXOWLSOH IDFWRUV )RU RQH JLUOV LQ SRRUHU IDPLOLHV WHQG WR HQG WKHLU VWXGLHV HDUOLHU EHFDXVH RI WKH FRVWV DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK HGXFDWLRQ 7KH OLPLWHG UHVRXUFHV LQ SRRU IDPLOLHV DUH PRUH OLNHO\ WR EH VSHQW RQ D ER\·V HGXFDWLRQ WKDQ D JLUO·V ,I D JLUO LV QRW LQ VFKRRO SDUHQWV DUH PRUH OLNHO\ WR JHW KHU PDUULHG ,Q VRPH FRQWH[WV SDUHQWV QHHG WR JLYH D VPDOOHU GRZU\ IRU \RXQJHU JLUOV DQG SRRU SDUHQWV WDNH WKLV URXWH GXH WR ÀQDQFLDO FRQVWUDLQWV $OVR SRRU SDUHQWV VRPHWLPHV PDUU\ D \RXQJHU GDXJKWHU DORQJ ZLWK DQ ROGHU VLEOLQJ WR DYRLG WKH FRVWV RI D separate marriage later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·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·V PDUULDJH 0RUH WKDQ HQJDJHPHQW LQ SDLG ZRUN SHU VH LW VHHPV WR EH WKH QDWXUH RI KHU ZRUN DQG WKH OHYHO RI HGXFDWLRQ WKDW LV PRUH OLNHO\ WR SUHYHQW FKLOG PDUULDJH
‡ 3UHYHQWLRQ RI FKLOG PDUULDJH $OPRVW DOO WKH JLUOV ER\V DQG SDUHQWV LQWHUYLHZHG IRU WKH VWXG\ VDLG WKDW WKH\ ZHUH DJDLQVW FKLOG PDUULDJH DQG UHFRPPHQGHG YDULRXV PHWKRGV IRU SUHYHQWLQJ WKH SUDFWLFH VXFK DV UDLVLQJ DZDUHQHVV VWULFW LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ RI WKH ODZ HUDGLFDWLRQ RI GRZU\ DQG SURPRWLQJ JLUOV· HGXFDWLRQ &RPPXQLW\ OHDGHUV DQG JRYHUQPHQW RIÀ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ÀQDQFLDO ORVV WR WKH IDPLO\ DQG DOVR KXUWV WKH IDPLO\·V KRQRXU 7KH IHZ FDVHV VXFFHVVIXOO\ SUHYHQWHG IHOO LQWR WZR FDWHJRULHV ,Q VRPH FDVHV WKH JLUO FRQFHUQHG RSSRVHG KHU SDUHQW·V GHFLVLRQ VRPHWLPHV ZLWK WKH KHOS RI D FKLOGUHQ·V RUJDQLVDWLRQ EURDGHU FRPPXQLW\ DFWLRQ ZDV LQVWUXPHQWDO LQ SUHYHQWLQJ D FKLOG PDUULDJH 8
Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal
‡ 6XFFHVVIXO VWUDWHJLHV DGRSWHG E\ 3ODQ 6RPH RI WKH VWUDWHJLHV DGRSWHG E\ 3ODQ LQ WKH FRXQWU\ SURJUDPPHV KDYH KDG D SRVLWLYH LPSDFW RQ UHGXFLQJ WKH SUDFWLFH RI FKLOG PDUULDJH 3ODQ SURPRWHV FKLOGUHQ¡V RUJDQLVDWLRQV DQG SDUWLFLSDWLRQ LQ FUHDWLQJ DZDUHQHVV DERXW VRFLDO LVVXHV LQFOXGLQJ FKLOG PDUULDJH &KLOGUHQ UHSRUWHG LQFUHDVHG NQRZOHGJH DQG FRQÀGHQFH DV D UHVXOW RI SDUWLFLSDWLRQ LQ WKHVH IRUXPV SDUWLFLSDWLRQ KDV DOVR WDXJKW WKHP DERXW their rights and how to negotiate with adults in this regard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¡ WUDQVLWLRQ WR WKH IRUPDO HGXFDWLRQ V\VWHP Expanding opportunities and roles for women makes it meaningful for parents to invest in their GDXJKWHU¡V HGXFDWLRQ 3ODQ HPSOR\V \RXQJ ZRPHQ DV WHDFKHUV LQ WKHLU FKLOG GHYHORSPHQW FHQWUHV DQG thus supports new avenues and aspirations for women.
Recommendations for programmes Strengthen community based organisations (CBOs) to develop systems for regular engagement with parents, including home visits: 3URJUDPPHV RSHUDWLQJ DW ORFDO OHYHO QHHG WR WDUJHW IDPLOLHV PRVW DW ULVN RI PDUU\LQJ WKHLU GDXJKWHUV DV FKLOGUHQ 7KHVH IDPLOLHV PLJKW LQFOXGH WKH SRRUHVW WKRVH ZLWK VHYHUDO GDXJKWHUV RU WKRVH ZLWK GDXJKWHUV ZKR KDYH DOUHDG\ GURSSHG RXW RI VFKRRO Engage with male members of the family: ,W LV FULWLFDO WR HQJDJH ZLWK DGXOW DQG \RXQJHU PDOHV LQ WKH family. Many respondents said that parents are more likely to listen to sons than to daughters. There are H[DPSOHV RI SURJUDPPHV WKDW KDYH VXFFHVVIXOO\ KHOSHG PHQ DQG ER\V FKDOOHQJH WUDGLWLRQDO JHQGHU UROHV DQG QRWLRQV RI PDQKRRG WKDW VXSSRUW FKLOG PDUULDJH Use mass media to spread the campaign in the community: &RPPXQLW\ HGXFDWLRQ PXVW HPSKDVLVH WKH QHHG WR UHVSHFW WKH GHFLVLRQV RI ER\V DQG JLUOV WR UHPDLQ XQPDUULHG DV ORQJ DV WKH\ ZLVK UDWKHU WKDQ stigmatising the unmarried ones. Strengthen capacities and empower girls and boys: 3DUHQWV DUH SHUVXDGHG DQG LQà XHQFHG E\ \RXQJ ZRPHQ DQG PHQ ZKR DUWLFXODWH WKHLU YLHZV RQ PDUULDJH DQG HGXFDWLRQ ZLWK FODULW\ %XLOGLQJ WKH FDSDFLWLHV RI \RXQJ ZRPHQ DQG PHQ WR QHJRWLDWH LQ D QRQ FRQIURQWDWLRQDO PDQQHU ZLOO HQDEOH WKHP WR WDNH D ÀUP SRVLWLRQ ZLWKRXW HQGDQJHULQJ IDPLO\ UHODWLRQVKLSV 3URJUDPPHV DOVR QHHG WR GHDO ZLWK DGROHVFHQFH DQG VH[XDOLW\ LQ D VXSSRUWLYH PDQQHU LQ RUGHU WR EXLOG FDSDFLW\ IRU UHVSRQVLEOH GHFLVLRQ PDNLQJ Leverage rising aspirations: 3DUHQWV DQG \RXQJ JLUOV DUH LQFUHDVLQJO\ UHFRJQLVLQJ WKH YDOXH RI HGXFDWLRQ DQG WKH EHWWHU TXDOLW\ RI OLIH LW FDQ HQDEOH ([SRVLQJ \RXQJ JLUOV DQG WKHLU IDPLOLHV WR SRWHQWLDO RSSRUWXQLWLHV and roles for women outside the house expands their worldview of possibilities.
Plan / Bernice Wong
'HYHORS VSHFLĂ€F SURJUDPPHV IRU FKLOGUHQ PDUULHG HDUO\ )HZ SXEOLF DQG FLYLO VRFLHW\ SURJUDPPHV H[LVW WR PHHW WKH QHHGV RI WKLV JURXS ,Q RUGHU WR VDIHJXDUG PDUULHG DGROHVFHQW JLUOV LW LV LPSHUDWLYH WR SURYLGH PHDVXUHV VSHFLĂ€FDOO\ GHVLJQHG DQG WDUJHWHG WRZDUGV WKHP $W D PLQLPXP RXWUHDFK VHUYLFHV PXVW EH DYDLODEOH LQ VH[XDO DQG UHSURGXFWLYH KHDOWK DV ZHOO DV RWKHU OLIH VNLOOV 7KH YDOXH RI FRPSOHWLQJ VHFRQGDU\ HGXFDWLRQ HYHQ IRU PDUULHG JLUOV VKRXOG DOVR EH VWUHVVHG LQ FRPPXQLW\ HGXFDWLRQ DQG SXEOLF HGXFDWLRQ FDPSDLJQV
9
Promote livelihood programmes for women and girls: 3URPRWLRQ RI YRFDWLRQDO DQG VNLOOV EDVHG WUDLQLQJ IRU ZRPHQ LV FHUWDLQ WR KDYH D SRVLWLYH LPSDFW IRU ERWK XQPDUULHG DQG PDUULHG ZRPHQ (QJDJHPHQW LQ LQFRPH JHQHUDWLQJ DFWLYLWLHV LQFUHDVHV D JLUO·V ZHOOEHLQJ LQ KHU marital household and may play a role in delaying girls’ marriage.
Plan
Make greater efforts with poorer and excluded families: The multiple vulnerabilities of poorer families not RQO\ OHDG WR D KLJKHU LQFLGHQFH RI FKLOG PDUULDJH DPRQJ WKHP EXW DOVR PDNH LW KDUGHU IRU SURJUDPPDWLF LQSXWV WR UHDFK WKHP 6SHFLDO HIIRUWV QHHG WR EH PDGH WR LQFOXGH these families.
School girls in Nepal dance and sing about the importance of education.
Make elimination of child marriage a primary objective: )RU WKH LVVXH RI FKLOG PDUULDJH WR JHW UHVRXUFHV HQHUJ\ DQG RUJDQLVDWLRQDO IRFXV LW LV FULWLFDO WKDW FKLOG PDUULDJH SUHYHQWLRQ EH DPRQJ WKH SULPDU\ REMHFWLYHV DV RSSRVHG WR D VHFRQGDU\ RU WHUWLDU\ REMHFWLYH VXEVXPHG XQGHU HGXFDWLRQDO RU KHDOWK LQLWLDWLYHV Promote safety of girls: 3URPRWLQJ VDIHW\ IRU JLUOV KDV WZR GLPHQVLRQV ÀUVW LW UHTXLUHV EXLOGLQJ WKHLU VHOI HVWHHP DQG FRQÀGHQFH DQG VHFRQG LW UHTXLUHV EXLOGLQJ FRPPXQLW\ DZDUHQHVV DQG UHVSRQVLYHQHVV DERXW WKH LVVXH &KLOGUHQ·V RUJDQLVDWLRQV DQG &%2V VKRXOG LQFOXGH VH[XDO YLROHQFH DQG KDUDVVPHQW LQ GLVFXVVLRQV SDUWLFXODUO\ LQ ZRUN ZLWK ER\V DQG PHQ Implement demonstration projects: *LYHQ WKH PXOWLSOH GULYHUV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH DQG OLPLWHG XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI VXFFHVVIXO LQWHUYHQWLRQV GHPRQVWUDWLRQ SURJUDPPHV WR PLWLJDWH DQG HQG FKLOG PDUULDJH LQ FLUFXPVFULEHG JHRJUDSKLFDO ORFDWLRQV FRXOG \LHOG LPSRUWDQW OHVVRQV DERXW ZKDW ZRUNV 7KLV DSSURDFK ZRXOG HQDEOH IRFXVVHG LQWURGXFWLRQ RI LQLWLDWLYHV DQG PRQLWRULQJ RI FKLOG PDUULDJH FDVHV Find champions among religious leaders: 5HOLJLRXV OHDGHUV SURYLGH PRUDO DQG VSLULWXDO JXLGDQFH IRU SDUHQWV DQG FKLOGUHQ &KDPSLRQV DPRQJ WKHP FDQ EH SRZHUIXO YRLFHV IRU SXWWLQJ WKH LQWHUHVWV RI WKH FKLOG ÀUVW
Policy recommendations Promote girls’ access to quality secondary education: *LUOV QHHGV HDVLHU DQG VDIHU DFFHVV WR TXDOLW\ VHFRQGDU\ VFKRROV )LQDQFLDO VXSSRUW IRU VHFRQGDU\ HGXFDWLRQ RI JLUOV VKRXOG EH XQLYHUVDOLVHG VR WKDW SRYHUW\ FHDVHV WR EH D FDXVH RI GURSSLQJ RXW VFKRRO 6LPXOWDQHRXVO\ SDUHQWV QHHG WR EH PRWLYDWHG WR VXSSRUW VHFRQGDU\ HGXFDWLRQ IRU JLUOV Develop stronger coordination among stakeholders: Several players are putting in efforts to eliminate FKLOG PDUULDJH JRYHUQPHQW ERGLHV ODZ HQIRUFHPHQW RIÀFLDOV FLYLO VRFLHW\ RUJDQLVDWLRQV DQG FRPPXQLW\ OHDGHUV 7KHUH LV D QHHG IRU EHWWHU FRRUGLQDWLRQ DQG FRRSHUDWLRQ DPRQJ WKHVH JURXSV WR FUHDWH D VRFLDO IRUFH WKDW ZLOO FKDQJH WKH QRUPV DURXQG FKLOG PDUULDJH Strengthen law enforcement: ,W LV FULWLFDO WR LGHQWLI\ DQG SURVHFXWH SDUWLHV LQYROYHG LQ FKLOG PDUULDJH VR WKDW WKH ODZ EHFRPHV D GHWHUUHQW 3HQDOWLHV QHHG WR EH HQKDQFHG LQ FRXQWULHV ZKHUH WKH\ DUH FXUUHQWO\ ORZ 7KHUH QHHGV WR EH JUHDWHU FDSDFLW\ EXLOGLQJ RI ODZ HQIRUFHPHQW RIÀFHUV UHJLVWUDUV MXGLFLDU\ RIÀFLDOV DQG UHOLJLRXV OHDGHUV DERXW WKH QHJDWLYH LPSDFWV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH 7KH SXEOLF DOVR QHHGV JUHDWHU DZDUHQHVV DERXW WKH FRQWHQW RI FKLOG PDUULDJH ODZV DQG SHQDOWLHV Support economic empowerment initiatives: $GGUHVVLQJ SRYHUW\ RQH RI WKH NH\ SUHFLSLWDWLQJ FDXVHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH FDQ UHGXFH WKH SUDFWLFH 3ROLF\PDNHUV VKRXOG VXSSRUW LQWHUYHQWLRQV DW WKH QDWLRQDO DQG ORFDO OHYHOV WKDW HFRQRPLFDOO\ HPSRZHU JLUOV DQG ZRPHQ VSHFLÀFDOO\ LQ ORFDWLRQV RI KLJK SUHYDOHQFH RI FKLOG PDUULDJH DQG LQ PDUJLQDOLVHG FRPPXQLWLHV
Recommendations for future research 1. Understand the links between girls’ engagement in paid work and age at marriage. 2. 8QGHUVWDQG WKH IDFWRUV WKDW VXSSRUW WKH FRQWLQXHG HGXFDWLRQ RI JLUOV DIWHU PDUULDJH 3. ([SORUH WKH IDFWRUV DQG FLUFXPVWDQFHV OHDGLQJ WR VHOI LQLWLDWHG FKLOG PDUULDJHV 10
Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal
Plan / Bernice Wong
,QWURGXFWLRQ
6KHIDOL IURP %DQJODGHVK ZDV PDUULHG DW DQG KDG KHU ÀUVW daughter when she was 14 years old. The child survived for only three days. Her next two children suffered the same fate. 1RZ DW \HDUV ROG VKH KDV JLYHQ ELUWK WR KHU ÀUVW surviving child.
7KH ULJKW WR IUHH DQG IXOO FRQVHQW WR D PDUULDJH LV UHFRJQLVHG LQ WKH 8QLWHG 1DWLRQV 81 8QLYHUVDO 'HFODUDWLRQ RI +XPDQ 5LJKWV 81 ZLWK WKH UHFRJQLWLRQ WKDW FRQVHQW FDQQRW EH ´IUHH DQG IXOOµ ZKHQ RQH RI WKH SDUWLHV LQYROYHG LV QRW VXIÀ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·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² %DQJODGHVK 1HSDO 3DNLVWDQ DQG ,QGLD ² UHYHDOV WKDW RYHU WKH SDVW WZR GHFDGHV VLJQLÀFDQW UHODWLYH UHGXFWLRQV KDYH RFFXUUHG LQ WKH PDUULDJH RI JLUOV XQGHU WKH DJH RI 1R UHODWLYH FKDQJH KDV EHHQ UHFRUGHG LQ WKH PDUULDJH RI JLUOV DJHG 14-17. 7KLV UHSRUW SUHVHQWV WKH ÀQGLQJV IURP D UHVHDUFK VWXG\ RQ FKLOG PDUULDJH LQ %DQJODGHVK ,QGLD DQG 1HSDO 7KH UHVHDUFK ZDV FDUULHG RXW XQGHU WKH DHJLV RI WKH $VLD &KLOG 0DUULDJH ,QLWLDWLYH $&0, ZKLFK LV SDUW RI 3ODQ ,QWHUQDWLRQDO·V %HFDXVH , DP D *LUO %,$$* FDPSDLJQ 3ODQ VHHV FKLOG PDUULDJH DV D VHULRXV YLRODWLRQ RI FKLOG ULJKWV DQG D EDUULHU WR WKH GHYHORSPHQW RI FKLOGUHQ 3ODQ DOVR EHOLHYHV WKDW JHQGHU HTXDOLW\ LV FHQWUDO WR DFKLHYLQJ LWV YLVLRQ IRU FKDQJH D ZRUOG LQ ZKLFK DOO FKLOGUHQ ERWK JLUOV DQG ER\V UHDOLVH WKHLU IXOO SRWHQWLDO LQ VRFLHWLHV WKDW UHVSHFW SHRSOH·V ULJKWV DQG GLJQLW\ &KLOG PDUULDJH DPRQJ JLUOV SHUSHWXDWHV XQHTXDO FRPPXQLW\ DQG IDPLO\ GHFLVLRQ PDNLQJ SRZHU JHQGHU JDSV LQ HGXFDWLRQDO DFKLHYHPHQW DQG HFRQRPLF LQGHSHQGHQFH DQG SRRU UHSURGXFWLYH DQG VH[XDO KHDOWK 7KH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO &HQWHU IRU 5HVHDUFK RQ :RPHQ ,&5: FDUULHG RXW WKLV VWXG\ LQ LQ SDUWQHUVKLS ZLWK 3ODQ·V &RXQWU\ 2IÀFHV &2V LQ %DQJODGHVK ,QGLD DQG 1HSDO
11
Asia Child Marriage Initiative
Plan/Suzanne Lee
7KH $VLD &KLOG 0DUULDJH ,QLWLDWLYH $&0, LV D PXOWL FRXQWU\ LQLWLDWLYH LQ WKH $VLD UHJLRQ VWDUWHG LQ DLPHG DW SUHYHQWLQJ FKLOG PDUULDJH DQG PLWLJDWLQJ LWV QHJDWLYH FRQVHTXHQFHV RQ FKLOGUHQ IDPLOLHV DQG FRPPXQLWLHV 7KH DLP RI WKLV LQLWLDWLYH LV WR XQGHUVWDQG WKH SUDFWLFH RI FKLOG PDUULDJH LQ 3ODQ·V VHOHFWHG SURJUDPPH ORFDWLRQV LQ 6RXWK $VLD DQG DOVR WR H[SORUH YDULRXV SDWKZD\V WKURXJK ZKLFK 3ODQ KDV DGGUHVVHG WKH FKDOOHQJHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH 3ODQ IROORZV D &KLOG &HQWUHG &RPPXQLW\ 'HYHORSPHQW &&&' DSSURDFK IRU DOO LWV SURJUDPPHV DQG LQ DGRSWHG D ULJKWV EDVHG DSSURDFK WR WKH LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ RI &&&' $&0, UHFRJQLVHV WKH YDULRXV LQÁXHQFHV RQ D FKLOG·V OLIH IURP QDWLRQDO DQG LQWHUQDWLRQDO VWUXFWXUHV WR WKH FRPPXQLW\ KRXVHKROG DQG WKH LQGLYLGXDO FKLOG·V GHVLUHV DQG DVSLUDWLRQV 7KH $&0, IUDPHZRUN DGGUHVVHV FKLOG PDUULDJH DFURVV DOO GLPHQVLRQV RI D FKLOG·V OLIH DW WKH IDPLO\ FRPPXQLW\ DQG QDWLRQDO OHYHOV WKURXJK WR WKH GRPLQDQW VRFLDO HFRQRPLF DQG FXOWXUDO IDFWRUV WKDW VKDSH WKH OLYHV RI FKLOGUHQ 3ODQ·V SURJUDPPHV HQJDJH QRW RQO\ ZLWK FKLOGUHQ EXW DOVR ZLWK IDPLOLHV WKH ZLGHU FRPPXQLWLHV FLYLO VRFLHW\ RUJDQLVDWLRQV DQG VWDWH DQG ORFDO JRYHUQPHQWV 7KH WKHRU\ RI FKDQJH EHKLQG $&0, UHFRJQLVHV WKH GHHS URRWHG DQG PXOWL FDXVDO QDWXUH RI FKLOG PDUULDJH 7KH HOLPLQDWLRQ RI FKLOG PDUULDJH UHTXLUHV PXOWL SURQJHG LQWHUYHQWLRQV WR DOWHU WKH VRFLDO QRUPV DQG OHJDO IUDPHZRUNV DURXQG WKH SUDFWLFH
6WDWXV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH LQ %DQJODGHVK India and Nepal Bangladesh
Plan/Suzanne Lee
$FFRUGLQJ WR 81,&()·V 6WDWH RI WKH :RUOG·V &KLOGUHQ RQH WKLUG RI ZRPHQ DJHG LQ %DQJODGHVK DUH PDUULHG E\ WKH DJH RI DQG DERXW WZR WKLUGV E\ WKH DJH RI $ UHFHQW VWXG\ E\ WKH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO &HQWUH IRU 'LDUUKRHDO 'LVHDVH 5HVHDUFK LQ %DQJODGHVK $&35 ,&''5 % 3ODQ %DQJODGHVK VKRZV DQ LPSURYLQJ WUHQG ZLWK SHU FHQW of women in the 20-24 age group married before 18 years of age. $ KLJKHU SURSRUWLRQ RI ZRPHQ SHU FHQW LQ UXUDO DUHDV DUH PDUULHG EHIRUH \HDUV RI DJH FRPSDUHG WR SHU FHQW RI ZRPHQ LQ XUEDQ DUHDV 7KH VWXG\ DOVR VKRZV VWURQJ DVVRFLDWLRQV DPRQJ FKLOG PDUULDJH HGXFDWLRQ DQG HFRQRPLF VWDWXV ZLWK KLJKHU UDWHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH DPRQJ ZRPHQ ZLWK ORZ RU QR HGXFDWLRQ DQG IRU WKRVH IURP IDPLOLHV OLYLQJ LQ SRYHUW\ 7KHUH KDV EHHQ RQO\ D YHU\ VOLJKW LQFUHDVH LQ WKH DYHUDJH JLUO·V DJH IRU PDUULDJH IURP \HDUV LQ WR LQ
Tamanna, 13, speaks during a monthly meeting of a children’s group in Bangladesh. “We have an organised system; we have a list of girls who are potential child brides and we check on them. Another initiative is making sure that there is birth registration for babies so that there will be proof of their age,” she explains. 12
8QGHU WKH &KLOG 0DUULDJH 5HVWUDLQW $FW WKH OHJDO PDUULDJH DJH LQ %DQJODGHVK LV \HDUV IRU D JLUO DQG \HDUV IRU D ER\ 3HQDOWLHV IRU FKLOG PDUULDJH DFFRUGLQJ WR WKH &KLOG 0DUULDJH 5HVWUDLQW $FW DUH LPSULVRQPHQW IRU RQH PRQWK RU D ÀQH XS WR WDND € RU ERWK $Q\ DGXOW RU JXDUGLDQ DUUDQJLQJ RU SHUPLWWLQJ FKLOG PDUULDJH FDQ EH FRQYLFWHG XQGHU WKH ODZ :RPHQ FDQQRW EH VHQWHQFHG WR LPSULVRQPHQW 7KH FDVH KDV WR EH UHJLVWHUHG ZLWK D FRXUW RI ODZ ZLWKLQ RQH \HDU RI WKH PDUULDJH ,I DQ LPSHQGLQJ FKLOG PDUULDJH LV EURXJKW WR Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal
Plan
“In addition to rolling beedis and doing household chores, I also have to look after three very young children,” says Ghazala, 17, from India.
D FRXUW·V QRWLFH LW FDQ EH OHJDOO\ SURKLELWHG +RZHYHU RQFH FRPSOHWHG D FKLOG·V PDUULDJH LV QRW FRQVLGHUHG LQYDOLG (PRU\ /DZ 6FKRRO Q G ,Q WKH %LUWK DQG 'HDWK 5HJLVWUDWLRQ $FW ZDV DPHQGHG WR PDNH LW PDQGDWRU\ IRU WKH EULGH DQG JURRP WR KDYH D ELUWK FHUWLÀFDWH EHIRUH D PDUULDJH FDQ EH UHJLVWHUHG
India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
Nepal $FFRUGLQJ WR 1HSDO·V 'HPRJUDSKLF DQG +HDOWK 6XUYH\ 0LQLVWU\ RI +HDOWK DQG 3RSXODWLRQ 1HSDO 1HZ (5$ DQG ,&) ,QWHUQDWLRQDO ,QF SHU FHQW RI 1HSDOHVH ZRPHQ DJHG WR ZHUH PDUULHG EHIRUH WKH\ WXUQHG $ UHFHQW VWXG\ 62/,' 1HSDO RQ FKLOG PDUULDJH IRXQG WKDW SHU FHQW RI ZRPHQ DQG SHU FHQW RI PHQ DJHG WR ZHUH PDUULHG EHIRUH WKH OHJDO PDUULDJHDEOH DJH &KLOG PDUULDJH ZDV PRVW SUHYDOHQW DPRQJ QRQ OLWHUDWH Janajati and Dalit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ÀQH RI XS WR UXSHHV ½ :KLOH SURJUHVVLYH OHJLVODWLRQ LV D SRVLWLYH VWHS DJDLQVW FKLOG PDUULDJH KLJK QXPEHUV RI JLUOV FRQWLQXH WR EH PDUULHG EHIRUH WKH DJH RI ,&5:
13
3ODQ·V SURJUDPPHV LQ %DQJODGHVK ,QGLD DQG 1HSDO OLQNDJHV WR FKLOG PDUULDJH $&0, VHHNV WR EXLOG RQ H[LVWLQJ FRXQWU\ SURJUDPPHV DQG SXOO WRJHWKHU QHZ DFWLYLWLHV XQGHU D VLQJOH IUDPHZRUN RQ FKLOG PDUULDJH &RQVHTXHQWO\ HDFK RI WKH WKUHH FRXQWULHV has developed programmes based on CCCD SULQFLSOHV DQG VWUDWHJLHV +RZHYHU WKH DFWXDO SURJUDPPHV LQ HDFK FRXQWU\ KDYH GLIIHUHQW GHVLJQV DQG REMHFWLYHV EDVHG RQ UHDOLWLHV SUHYDLOLQJ LQ HDFK FRXQWU\ i ,Q WKLV VHFWLRQ ZH EULHÁ\ GHVFULEH WKH FRXQWU\ SURJUDPPHV WKDW KDYH D GLUHFW RU LQGLUHFW HIIHFW RQ FKLOG PDUULDJH Dina Torrans
Plan Bangladesh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
Plan India 3ODQ ,QGLD DGGUHVVHV FKLOG PDUULDJH XQGHU LWV SURJUDPPH IRU SURPRWLQJ FKLOGUHQ·V ULJKW WR SURWHFWLRQ IURP DEXVH DQG H[SORLWDWLRQ 3ODQ ,QGLD·V REMHFWLYH LV WR SURPRWH NQRZOHGJH DWWLWXGHV DQG SUDFWLFHV ZLWK UHJDUG WR FKLOG PDUULDJH DQG FKLOGUHQ·V ULJKWV 7KH SURJUDPPH LQGLFDWRU LV WKH SHUFHQWDJH RI JLUOV PDUULHG EHIRUH WKH OHJDO DJH RI \HDUV $V SDUW RI WKH %,$$* FDPSDLJQ 3ODQ ,QGLD KDV EHHQ FRQGXFWLQJ D VHULHV RI UHVHDUFK VWXGLHV VLQFH 7KH ODWHVW VWXG\ 3ODQ ,QGLD LV RQ DGROHVFHQW JLUOV LQ HGXFDWLRQDOO\ GHSULYHG DUHDV RI ,QGLD 7KLV VWXG\ SUHVHQWV VRPH UHFHQW ÀQGLQJV RQ FKLOG PDUULDJH LQ ,QGLD ZKLFK DUH referred to in this report.
Plan Nepal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et al 7KH UHVXOWV IURP WKLV VWXG\ DUH UHIHUUHG WR LQ WKLV report. 14
Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal
Current study 3ULRU UHVHDUFK KDV VKRZQ WKDW YDULRXV VRFLR HFRQRPLF IDFWRUV HGXFDWLRQ XUEDQLVDWLRQ VWDQGDUG RI OLYLQJ ZRUN SDUWLFLSDWLRQ RI ZRPHQ HWF DUH DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK FKLOG PDUULDJH DORQJ ZLWK FHUWDLQ FXOWXUDO DQG VRFLDO QRUPV *XSWD et al 5HFHQW UHVHDUFK FRQGXFWHG MRLQWO\ E\ WKH ,&5: 81,&() LQ ,QGLD GHPRQVWUDWHV NH\ VWUXFWXUDO GULYHUV IRU WKH PDUULDJH RI JLUOV XQGHU WKH DJH RI 7KHVH LQFOXGH D JHQGHU QRUPV DQG H[SHFWDWLRQV QRWLRQV RI D JLUO·V IDPLOLDO UROH VLJQLÀFDQFH RI FKDVWLW\ IHDU RI VWLJPD DQG VHFXULW\ FRQFHUQV E HFRQRPLF IDFWRUV GRZU\ SRYHUW\ DQG FRVW RI PDUULDJH F FXOWXUDO DQG UHOLJLRXV SUDFWLFHV DQG G WKH SRRU VWDWH RI SXEOLF HGXFDWLRQ OLPLWHG LQIUDVWUXFWXUH GLVWDQFH IURP VFKRROV DQG ODFN RI YRFDWLRQDO WUDLQLQJ 7KH ,&5: LV VSHDUKHDGLQJ HIIRUWV WR ÀQG VROXWLRQV WKDW FDQ SUHYHQW FKLOG PDUULDJH LQ $VLD 7KH ,&5:·V SUHYLRXV UHVHDUFK SURYLGHV D GHHSHU XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI WKH VFRSH FDXVHV DQG FRQVHTXHQFHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH %DVHG RQ \HDUV RI LQYROYHPHQW ZLWK WKH LVVXH RI FKLOG PDUULDJH WKH ,&5: FDUULHG RXW WKLV VWXG\ WR SURYLGH DGGLWLRQDO LQVLJKWV WR WKH 3ODQ $VLD 5HJLRQDO 2IÀFH DQG WR KLJKOLJKW WKH LPSOLFDWLRQV IRU DGYRFDF\ 7KH HYLGHQFH REWDLQHG IURP WKLV UHVHDUFK FRQWULEXWHV WR WKH XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI FKLOG PDUULDJH SUDFWLFHV LQ 3ODQ·V SURJUDPPLQJ DUHDV LQ WKHVH WKUHH FRXQWULHV DQG SURYLGHV UHFRPPHQGDWLRQV IRU VWUHQJWKHQLQJ SURJUDPPH DQG DGYRFDF\ HIIRUWV WR HOLPLQDWH FKLOG PDUULDJH
Objectives and research questions 7KH FXUUHQW VWXG\ H[SORUHV WKH SHUFHSWLRQV RI GLIIHUHQW VWDNHKROGHUV UHJDUGLQJ WKH FDXVHV DQG FRQVHTXHQFHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH DQG WKH HIÀFDF\ RI 3ODQ·V SURJUDPPLQJ LQ DGGUHVVLQJ WKHVH IDFWRUV ,W DOVR VHHNV WR XQGHUVWDQG WKH LVVXH SULPDULO\ IURP WKH SHUVSHFWLYH RI FKLOGUHQ ZKR ZHUH H[SRVHG WR 3ODQ·V programmes. 7KH PDLQ UHVHDUFK TXHVWLRQ WKH VWXG\ VHHNV WR DQVZHU LV +RZ HIIHFWLYHO\ KDYH 3ODQ·V FKLOG FHQWUHG DSSURDFKHV LQ %DQJODGHVK ,QGLD DQG 1HSDO DGGUHVVHG WKH FDXVHV DQG FRQVHTXHQFHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH" 7R DQVZHU WKLV TXHVWLRQ WKH UHVHDUFK H[DPLQHG KRZ 3ODQ·V LQWHUYHQWLRQV LQ HDFK RI WKH WKUHH FRXQWULHV ZRUNHG DW WKH LQGLYLGXDO IDPLO\ DQG FRPPXQLW\ OHYHOV 0RUH VSHFLÀFDOO\ WKH VWXG\ VRXJKW WR H[SORUH D VHULHV RI VXE TXHVWLRQV UHODWLQJ WR WKH PDLQ UHVHDUFK TXHVWLRQ
Paolo Black for the Young Health Programme
Have Plan’s interventions in these three FRXQWULHV L ,QFUHDVHG DZDUHQHVV UHJDUGLQJ FKLOG PDUULDJH ODZV DQG WKH FRQVHTXHQFHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH DPRQJ LQGLYLGXDOV IDPLOLHV DQG WKH FRPPXQLW\" LL ,QFUHDVHG QHJRWLDWLRQ VNLOOV DPRQJ FKLOGUHQ DQG HPSRZHUHG WKHP WR SUHYHQW FKLOG PDUULDJH" LLL 6XFFHHGHG LQ LQFUHDVHG DZDUHQHVV DQG DFWLRQ E\ ORFDO DQG QDWLRQDO VWDWH LQVWLWXWLRQV WR SUHYHQW FKLOG PDUULDJH" LY 6XFFHHGHG LQ FUHDWLQJ HQDEOLQJ HQYLURQPHQWV IRU WKH UHGXFWLRQ RI FKLOG PDUULDJH DV D UHVXOW RI its partnership with the state and DGYRFDF\ HIIRUWV" Y 6XFFHVVIXOO\ WUDQVLWLRQHG IURP D VHUYLFH GHOLYHU\ WR D ULJKWV EDVHG DSSURDFK" )XUWKHUPRUH WKH VWXG\ VRXJKW WR GLVFRYHU ZKDW FDQ EH OHDUQW IURP VSHFLÀF FDVHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH SUHYHQWLRQ DQG ÀQG H[DPSOHV RI EHVW SUDFWLFH ZLWKLQ 3ODQ·V SURJUDPPLQJ DQG DGYRFDF\ HIIRUWV 15
Methodology 7KH FXUUHQW VWXG\ LV EDVHG RQ TXDOLWDWLYH GDWD FROOHFWHG IURP %DQJODGHVK ,QGLD DQG 1HSDO DQG VHFRQGDU\ GDWD IURP UHSRUWV DQG VWXGLHV RQ FKLOG PDUULDJH LQ WKHVH FRXQWULHV 3ULPDU\ GDWD ZDV JDWKHUHG WKURXJK LQ GHSWK LQWHUYLHZV DQG IRFXV JURXS GLVFXVVLRQV )*' ZLWK D UDQJH RI VWDNHKROGHUV LQFOXGLQJ FKLOGUHQ SDUHQWV FRPPXQLW\ OHDGHUV DQG JRYHUQPHQW RIÀFHUV ,Q HDFK FRXQWU\ WZR WR IRXU UROH PRGHOV ZHUH DOVR LGHQWLÀHG DQG LQWHUYLHZHG 7KH FULWHULRQ IRU VHOHFWLRQ RI UROH PRGHOV ZDV SHUVRQV ZKR KDG VXFFHVVIXOO\ SUHYHQWHG D FKLOG PDUULDJH LQ WKH IDFH RI DGYHUVH FLUFXPVWDQFHV $ WRWDO RI WR LQWHUYLHZV DQG )*'V ZHUH FRQGXFWHG LQ HDFK FRXQWU\ ZLWK DERXW WKUHH TXDUWHUV RI WKH LQWHUYLHZV FRQGXFWHG LQ DUHDV ZKHUH 3ODQ LV DFWLYH 7KH UHPDLQGHU ZHUH FRQGXFWHG LQ QRQ 3ODQ DUHDV 7KH REMHFWLYH RI GRLQJ WKH ODWWHU ZDV WR REWDLQ UHVSRQVHV IURP SHUVRQV QRW H[SRVHG WR 3ODQ·V SURJUDPPHV ,Q %DQJODGHVK WKH VWXG\ ZDV FRQGXFWHG LQ 1LOSKDPDUL DQG 5DQJSXU GLVWULFWV RI 5DQSXU DQG *D]LSXU GLVWULFW RI 'KDND ,Q 1HSDO WKH VWXG\ ZDV FRQGXFWHG LQ %DQNH GLVWULFW LQ %KHUL =RQH 0DNZDQSXU GLVWULFW LQ 1DUD\DQL =RQH DQG 6XQVDUL GLVWULFW LQ .RVKL =RQH ,Q ,QGLD WKH VWXG\ ZDV FRQGXFWHG LQ %LNDQHU GLVWULFW RI 5DMDVWKDQ :KLOH WKH EURDG VDPSOLQJ VWUDWHJ\ ZDV WKH VDPH DFURVV WKH WKUHH FRXQWULHV WKHUH ZHUH D IHZ FRQWH[W VSHFLÀF YDULDWLRQV LQ WKH ÀQDO VDPSOH VHOHFWLRQ LQ HDFK FRXQWU\ 7KHVH DUH GHWDLOHG LQ VHSDUDWH LQGLYLGXDO FRXQWU\ UHSRUWV RQ WKH VWXG\ ,Q WKH LQWHUYLHZV DQG )*'V WKH IROORZLQJ WKHPHV ZHUH GLVFXVVHG L (GXFDWLRQ SDWWHUQV DPRQJ JLUOV DQG ER\V DQG WKH HIIHFW RI WKLV RQ GHOD\LQJ PDUULDJH ii. The aspirations of young persons and their parents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ÀFDOO\ WKH UROH RI 3ODQ LQ SUHYHQWLQJ FKLOG PDUULDJH
Limitations 7KH IRFXV RI WKLV VWXG\ LV RQ WKH SHUFHSWLRQV RI GLIIHUHQW VWDNHKROGHUV UHJDUGLQJ WKH FDXVHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH DQG WKH HIÀFDF\ RI 3ODQ·V SURJUDPPLQJ LQ DGGUHVVLQJ WKHVH FDXVDO IDFWRUV ,W UHÁHFWV QRW RQO\ WKH VXSSO\ RI 3ODQ·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ÀFHUV WHOO WKH VWRU\ 7KH QH[W VHFWLRQ SUHVHQWV DQG GLVFXVVHV WKH NH\ ÀQGLQJV IURP WKH VWXG\ 7KLV LV IROORZHG E\ WKH FRQFOXVLRQV DQG UHFRPPHQGDWLRQV IRU 3ODQ·V SURJUDPPLQJ DQG JRYHUQPHQW SROLF\ )LQDOO\ ZH KLJKOLJKW DUHDV IRU IXUWKHU UHVHDUFK
16
Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal
'LVFXVVLRQ RI WKH NH\ Ă€QGLQJV Nargis, 19, used to dream of becoming a teacher. Now a mother of two, she has had to rethink her life. “I was studying in grade 8 when child marriage shattered all my dreams,â€? she says. She was 16 when her parents arranged her marriage WR DQ ROGHU PDQ IURP WKH VDPH GLVWULFW LQ FHQWUDO %DQJODGHVK ´0\ Ă€UVW VRQ GLHG Now I have another son, but he is malnourished,â€? Nargis says.
The causes of child marriage
Plan
,Q WKLV VHFWLRQ ZH SUHVHQW WKH UHVHDUFK ÀQGLQJV DQG KLJKOLJKW WKH VLPLODULWLHV DQG GLIIHUHQFHV DPRQJ WKH WKUHH FDVH VWXG\ FRXQWULHV )LUVW ZH SUHVHQW WKH UHVSRQGHQWV¡ YLHZV RQ WKH FDXVHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH DQG ZKDW FDQ EH GRQH WR SUHYHQW LW 6HFRQG ZH GLVFXVV 3ODQ¡V LQWHUYHQWLRQV LQ WKHVH WKUHH FRQWH[WV DQG KLJKOLJKW VRPH VWUDWHJLHV WKDW DUH ZRUNLQJ ZHOO LQ DGGUHVVLQJ WKH FKDOOHQJHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH 5HVSRQGHQWV LQ DOO WKUHH FRXQWULHV UHSRUWHG WKDW WKHUH KDV EHHQ DQ XSZDUG VKLIW LQ WKH DJH DW ZKLFK FKLOGUHQ DUH PDUULHG IURP \HDUV WR \HDUV DQG WKDW WKH OHJDO DJH IRU PDUULDJH LV QRW REVHUYHG 7KH FDXVHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH LQFOXGH QRUPDWLYH DQG VWUXFWXUDO IDFWRUV VXFK DV VRFLDO QRUPV HFRQRPLF VWDWXV DQG RSSRUWXQLWLHV DYDLODEOH WR women. 7KH WUDGLWLRQDO FDXVHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH LQ WKH WKUHH FRXQWULHV DUH IDLUO\ VLPLODU DV DOO WKUHH VKDUH PDQ\ VRFLDO YDOXHV DQG QRUPV ,Q DGGLWLRQ WKHUH DUH FLUFXPVWDQWLDO DQG FRQWH[W VSHFLÀF IDFWRUV WKDW LQà XHQFH KRXVHKROG GHFLVLRQ PDNLQJ VXFK DV WKH ORVV RI D SDUHQW RU WKH DYDLODELOLW\ RI HGXFDWLRQ DQG RSSRUWXQLWLHV IRU ZRPHQ 7KHVH KDYH D VPDOOHU HIIHFW RQ WKH DJH DW ZKLFK FKLOGUHQ PDUU\ 5HVSRQGHQWV DOVR UHSRUW WKDW LQ UHFHQW WLPHV WKHUH KDV EHHQ DQ LQFUHDVH LQ VHOI LQLWLDWHG FKLOG PDUULDJHV 7KHVH YDULRXV GULYHUV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH DUH GLVFXVVHG EHORZ LQ PRUH GHWDLO
Tradition and the role of the family in child marriage $OO WKUHH FRXQWULHV VKDUH D WUDGLWLRQ RI FKLOG PDUULDJH DQG FXOWXUDO QRUPV SHUVLVW WRGD\ $FURVV WKH WKUHH FRXQWULHV SDUHQWV DQG WKHLU FKLOGUHQ FRQVLGHU PDUULDJH QHFHVVDU\ DQG LQHYLWDEOH )XUWKHUPRUH LW LV WKH SDUHQW¡V UHVSRQVLELOLW\ WR PDUU\ WKHLU GDXJKWHUV DQG SURWHFW WKHLU FKDVWLW\ XQWLO WKH\ DUH PDUULHG (DUO\ PDUULDJH HQVXUHV DQ KRQRXUDEOH GLVFKDUJH IURP WKLV GXW\ 3DUHQWV ZKR GHOD\ WKH PDUULDJH RI WKHLU GDXJKWHUV DUH VHHQ DV IDLOLQJ LQ WKHLU SDUHQWDO UHVSRQVLELOLWLHV DQG KDYH WR IDFH DGYHUVH FRPPHQWV IURP WKH FRPPXQLW\ 7KH VDIHW\ DQG VHFXULW\ RI \RXQJ JLUOV ZRUULHV SDUHQWV DQG WKH\ IHHO WKDW DQ XQPDUULHG JLUO LV YXOQHUDEOH WR VH[XDO H[SORLWDWLRQ DQG DEXVH 0DUULDJH LV VHHQ DV D SUHYHQWDWLYH PHDVXUH WR SURWHFW \RXQJ JLUOV IURP potential danger. “The reason behind this is eve-teasing. When a girl starts becoming mature in our area, then the bad guys start following her or teasing her. Parents are very scared about that and don’t want their daughters to continue studying, so they get them married.â€? 5HOLJLRXV OHDGHU %DQJODGHVK
6LQFH WKH SULPDU\ UROHV IRU ZRPHQ DUH WKRVH RI ZLYHV DQG PRWKHUV SDUHQWV VHH OLWWOH PHULW LQ GHOD\LQJ D JLUO¡V PDUULDJH RQFH VKH LV ROG HQRXJK WR WDNH RQ WKHVH UROHV *HQHUDOO\ JHWWLQJ DQ HGXFDWLRQ LV OLQNHG WR JHWWLQJ D MRE DQG LI D ZRPDQ ZLOO RQO\ EH HQJDJHG LQ KRXVHKROG MREV SDUHQWV VHH OLWWOH UHDVRQ WR HGXFDWH her beyond a minimal level. 17
6RPH PDOH UHVSRQGHQWV LQ 1HSDO HFKRHG WKH QRUP RI ZRPHQ¡V SULPDU\ UROHV DV KRPH PDNHUV LQ WKH UDWLRQDOH JLYHQ IRU JLUOV¡ HDUO\ PDUULDJH 7KH UHVSRQGHQWV IHOW WKDW SDUHQWV ZDQW WR PDUU\ WKHLU FKLOGUHQ HDUO\ LQ RUGHU WR KDQG RYHU GRPHVWLF UHVSRQVLELOLWLHV ZKLFK DUH FOHDUO\ JHQGHUHG WR WKH \RXQJHU JHQHUDWLRQ “Parents always want to give responsibility to their children. After marriage a son has to earn for the family, which was being done by his father, and a mother wants to handover her responsibility to her daughters-in-law. Every parent wants to take food from the hands of their daughters-in-law.â€? 0DUULHG ER\ XQGHU 1HSDO
Poverty and child marriage
Plan
*LUOV IURP IDPLOLHV LQ ORZHU ZHDOWK TXLQWLOHV DUH PRUH YXOQHUDEOH WR FKLOG PDUULDJH DQG WKHUH DUH PXOWLSOH IDFWRUV WKDW DJJUDYDWH WKLV YXOQHUDELOLW\ 7KH ÀUVW IDFWRU KDV WR GR ZLWK IHZHU \HDUV LQ VFKRRO *LUOV IURP WKHVH IDPLOLHV DUH H[FOXGHG IURP DWWHQGLQJ VFKRRO EHFDXVH RI WKH FRVWV DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK HGXFDWLRQ ii
In Nepal, the red powder on this girl’s forehead is a symbol that she is married.
7KH UHVSHFWLYH JRYHUQPHQWV LQ DOO WKUHH FRXQWULHV KDYH VHW XS VFKRODUVKLS SURJUDPPHV IRU JLUOV DQG WKHUH LV VRPH LQGLFDWLRQ WKDW WKLV LV HQDEOLQJ JLUOV WR VWD\ LQ VFKRRO ORQJHU +RZHYHU WKHUH LV DOVR HYLGHQFH WR VKRZ WKDW WKH DYDLODELOLW\ RI VFKRODUVKLSV LV IDU IURP XQLYHUVDO ,Q DGGLWLRQ WKH LQGLUHFW FRVWV RI HGXFDWLRQ VXFK DV WUDQVSRUWDWLRQ DQG H[WUD WXLWLRQ PDNH LW KDUGHU IRU VRPH IDPLOLHV WR NHHS WKHLU JLUOV LQ VFKRRO 7KH FRVW RI HGXFDWLRQ FRQWLQXHV WR EH D GHWHUUHQW IRU JLUOV IURP WKH poorest families.
As a father of three daughters in Nepal told us: “Regarding my younger daughter, I want to have her education up to SLC [School Leaving &HUWLˉFDWH@ SDVVHG EXW , GRQČ W NQRZ ZKDW ZLOO KDSSHQ 0D\EH , ZLOO DUUDQJH KHU PDUULDJH , KDYH WULHG WR VXSSRUW WKHP 0\ HOGHU GDXJKWHU VWRSSHG KHU HGXFDWLRQ GXH WR PRQH\ SUREOHPV , DP earning doing labour work. I should support all expenses like clothes, food and medicine, from my single earning. School provides only two books for my daughter. If we receive support of school fees and other materials then I will educate my daughters so they can study. We did not get the facilities that we should get from the dalit quota. I asked for support but nobody hears‌â€? )DWKHU RI XQPDUULHG JLUO 1HSDO
7KH OLPLWHG UHVRXUFHV LQ WKHVH IDPLOLHV DUH PRUH OLNHO\ WR EH VSHQW RQ D ER\¡V HGXFDWLRQ WKDQ D JLUO¡V 7KH H[SHQGLWXUH RQ D VRQ¡V HGXFDWLRQ LV VHHQ DV DQ LQYHVWPHQW E\ SDUHQWV XQOLNH WKH H[SHQGLWXUH RQ D GDXJKWHU ZKR ZLOO HYHQWXDOO\ PRYH WR KHU PDULWDO IDPLO\ ,W ZDV DOVR FRPPRQO\ UHSRUWHG WKDW LI D JLUO LV QRW LQ VFKRRO parents are more likely to arrange her marriage sooner. 5HVSRQGHQWV VDLG WKDW JLUOV IURP ORZHU ZHDOWK TXLQWLOHV DUH PRUH OLNHO\ WR H[SHULHQFH VH[XDO KDUDVVPHQW WKDQ WKRVH IURP KLJKHU ZHDOWK TXLQWLOHV DQG WKLV FDQ EH D IDFWRU LQ FKLOG PDUULDJH *LYHQ WKH LPSRUWDQFH RI IHPDOH FKDVWLW\ HDUO\ PDUULDJH LV VHHQ DV D VROXWLRQ $ VFKRRO WHDFKHU LQ %DQJODGHVK VKDUHG KLV LPSUHVVLRQV “Sometimes the girls face eve-teasing when they walk on the roads; a boy constantly follows D EHDXWLIXO JLUO RI D SRRU IDPLO\ 7KH\ GR QRW GLVWXUE JLUOV RI LQËŠXHQWLDO IDPLOLHV EXW WKH SRRU IDPLOLHV PDUU\ RII WKH JLUO EHFDXVH RI VHFXULW\ >FRQFHUQV@ ČŁ 6FKRRO WHDFKHU %DQJODGHVK
18
Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal
Plan
A 15-year-old girl from Nepal feeds her 8-month-old baby.
,Q WKH FRQWH[W RI 5DMDVWKDQ ,QGLD SDUHQWV FRQFHUQHG DERXW WKH H[SHQVHV DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK PDUULDJH DUH OLNHO\ WR PDUU\ D YHU\ \RXQJ JLUO DW WKH VDPH WLPH DV DQ ROGHU VLEOLQJ RU FRXVLQ ,Q %DQJODGHVK DQG 1HSDO UHVSRQGHQWV VDLG WKDW SDUHQWV DUH DEOH WR JLYH D VPDOOHU GRZU\ IRU \RXQJHU JLUOV UDLVLQJ WKH FKDQFHV WKDW SDUHQWV PDUU\ WKHLU GDXJKWHUV DW D \RXQJ DJH “I have three daughters aged 17, 15 and 13. We’ll marry them off together. The expenses have increased so much! We want to marry three girls and the boy together. But these girls say that they do not want to get married. How do we explain to them that it is an expensive affair? Now, if someone is doing a job, they can afford many marriage functions. If we do one function then we save money.� 0RWKHU RI XQPDUULHG JLUO ,QGLD
Education and child marriage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Ă€FXOW DV IHZHU YLOODJHV KDYH VHFRQGDU\ VFKRROV *LUOV KDYH WR WUDYHO WR QHLJKERXULQJ YLOODJHV LI WKH\ ZDQW WR VWXG\ EH\RQG SULPDU\ VFKRRO 3DUHQWV DUH FRQFHUQHG DERXW WKH VDIHW\ RI WKHLU JLUOV DQG DUH WKHUHIRUH UHOXFWDQW WR VHQG WKHP iii 5HVSRQGHQWV LQ %DQJODGHVK DQG 1HSDO UHSRUWHG UHODWLYH HDVH RI DFFHVV WR PLGGOH DQG KLJK VFKRRO ZKLOH PRVW JLUOV LQ WKHVH FRXQWULHV HQWHU PLGGOH VFKRRO +RZHYHU LW LV XQFRPPRQ IRU D JLUO WR FRPSOHWH PLGGOH VFKRRO DQG JLYHQ WKH VRFLDO SUHIHUHQFH IRU JLUOV¡ HDUO\ PDUULDJH VFKRRO HQUROPHQW LQ DQG RI LWVHOI LV LQVXIĂ€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´VLWWLQJ DW KRPHÂľ KHU SDUHQWV ZLOO FHUWDLQO\ ZDQW WR JHW KHU PDUULHG “But in other cases it is observed that if a girl doesn’t study and is sitting idle at home, then she is married off quickly, and if she studies and does well in her exams, then she is married off later.â€?
8QPDUULHG JLUO DERYH %DQJODGHVK
19
$IUR]D IURP %DQJODGHVK LV \HDUV ROG $IWHU GHOLYHULQJ KHU ÀUVW FKLOG she lost consciousness, only to wake up to more labour pains – the birth of twins. Afroza is struggling to adapt to the demands of motherhood.
Plan / Bernice Wong
7KH OHQJWK RI D JLUO¡V VWXGLHV LV D IXQFWLRQ RI WKH IDPLO\¡V HFRQRPLF FLUFXPVWDQFHV HDVH RI DFFHVV WR VFKRROV DQG WKH aspirations that she and her family have. While poverty is JHQHUDOO\ D IDFWRU DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK HDUO\ VFKRRO GURSRXW SDUHQWV DQG FKLOGUHQ LQGLFDWHG WKDW LI D JLUO DQG KHU IDPLO\ ZHUH GHWHUPLQHG VKH ZRXOG FRQWLQXH ZLWK KHU VWXGLHV GHVSLWH VWUDLQHG ÀQDQFLDO FLUFXPVWDQFHV iv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et al SHU FHQW RI ZRPHQ LQ XUEDQ DUHDV DQG SHU FHQW RI ZRPHQ LQ UXUDO DUHDV FRQWLQXHG WKHLU VWXGLHV DIWHU JHWWLQJ PDUULHG 7KHUH ZDV QR HYLGHQFH LQ WKH GDWD WR H[SODLQ WKLV GLIIHUHQFH DQG IXUWKHU UHVHDUFK LV UHTXLUHG WR understand the issue. Ȣ0\ IDWKHU LV HGXFDWLQJ PH ZLWK KDUGVKLS 0\ mother is sick; in the midst of such a situation they need to give me 50 taka every day [for WUDQVSRUWDWLRQ@ 0\ IDWKHU LV IXOˉOOLQJ P\ dreams; I will also meet their needs after getting established.� 8QPDUULHG JLUO DERYH %DQJODGHVK
“The eldest son of my eldest uncle is a PDUNHWLQJ RIˉFHU RQH RI P\ EURWKHUV LV LQ the army. One of my sisters–in-law (the wife of my brother) has studied a lot, she is also a teacher. Each and every one of my father’s family is very much educated. Only we are illiterate. All of the relatives of my father’s house always come and visit my family. They always tell us not to get my daughter married soon; rather they tell us to continue the education of my daughter. They tell us that will be a mistake if I get my daughter married at an early age.� 0RWKHU RI UROH PRGHO %DQJODGHVK
Role of children in child marriage $ UHODWLYHO\ OHVV GLVFXVVHG DQG XQGHUVWRRG UHDVRQ IRU FKLOG PDUULDJH WKDW HPHUJHG LV VHOI LQLWLDWHG PDUULDJHV E\ \RXQJ JLUOV DQG ER\V v $FFRUGLQJ WR RQH JLUO LQ 1HSDO DQG KHU RSLQLRQ ZDV HQGRUVHG E\ PDQ\ RWKHUV WKH HIIHFW RI HGXFDWLRQ RQ PDUULDJH LV QXOOLÀHG EHFDXVH JLUOV LQ VFKRROV LQLWLDWH WKHLU RZQ PDUULDJHV GXH WR ´ORYH¾ DQG ´VHOI LQLWLDWLRQ¾ 7KHUH ZHUH UHSRUWV IURP DOO WKUHH FRXQWULHV RI JLUOV XQGHU FKRRVLQJ WR JHW PDUULHG ZLWK RU ZLWKRXW SDUHQWDO FRQVHQW 7ZR IDFWRUV WKDW ZHUH VHHQ DV FRQWULEXWLQJ WR WKH LQFUHDVH LQ VHOI LQLWLDWHG PDUULDJHV ZHUH WKH LQFUHDVHG LQWHU PLQJOLQJ RI JLUOV DQG ER\V LQ VFKRROV DQG WKH DYDLODELOLW\ RI PRELOH SKRQHV 7KHVH GHYHORSPHQWV LQ UHFHQW \HDUV KDYH LQFUHDVHG WKH HDVH RI FRPPXQLFDWLRQ EHWZHHQ JLUOV DQG ER\V DQG IDFLOLWDWHG VHOI LQLWLDWHG PDUULDJHV
20
Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal
7KH FRQFHUQ DPRQJ SDUHQWV VHHPV WR EH PRUH DERXW WKH GDPDJH WR IDPLO\ SUHVWLJH DQG KRQRXU UDWKHU WKDQ WKH \RXQJ DJH DW ZKLFK WKH\ DUH PDUU\LQJ 7KHLU UHDFWLRQV DSSHDU WR EH PRUH DERXW WKH \RXQJ JLUOV¡ VHOI DVVHUWLRQ DQG GHÀDQFH RI IDPLO\ FRQWURO WKDQ DERXW WKH PDUULDJH 1HYHUWKHOHVV WKLV SKHQRPHQRQ RI FKLOGUHQ FKRRVLQJ WR PDUU\ FUHDWHV IHDU DPRQJ SDUHQWV WKDW LI D \RXQJ JLUO LV QRW PDUULHG VKH PD\ FKRRVH WR UXQ DZD\ ZLWK VRPHRQH RI KHU FKRLFH ZKLFK ZLOO GDPDJH IDPLO\ SULGH 7KLV IHDU FDQ FRQWULEXWH WR WKH SDUHQW¡V GHFLVLRQ WR PDUU\ WKHLU JLUOV HDUO\ vi
Engagement in paid work and child marriage 7KHUH ZDV QR FOHDU FRQVHQVXV RQ ZKHWKHU HQJDJHPHQW LQ SDLG ZRUN OHG WR GHOD\LQJ D JLUO¡V PDUULDJH ,W ZDV IHOW WKDW LI D IDPLO\ LV SRRU DQG GHSHQGV RQ WKH JLUO¡V ÀQDQFLDO FRQWULEXWLRQ WKHQ WKH\ PLJKW GHOD\ KHU PDUULDJH +RZHYHU HYHQ LQ VXFK FDVHV LI WKH IDPLO\ ÀQGV D JRRG KXVEDQG WKH\ ZLOO DUUDQJH WKH PDUULDJH 5DWKHU WKDQ WKH HQJDJHPHQW LQ SDLG ZRUN LW ZDV WKH QDWXUH RI ZRUN DQG WKH OHYHO RI HGXFDWLRQ WKDW LV PRUH likely to prevent an early marriage.vii As some boys said: Ȣ,W >FKLOG PDUULDJH@ LV KDSSHQLQJ EXW SDUHQWV are not responsible for this in most of the FDVHV 0RVW RI WKH JLUOV JHW PDUULHG E\ themselves at their early ages without the consent of their parents. They escape from their house and families to get married; therefore parents are bound to get them married early.�
“Yes, girls’ education affects the age at which she is married. If a daughter is studying well, parents don’t hurry or force marriage. But children are doing love marriages mostly because boys and girls meet in the school and fall into affairs and run away.� 8QPDUULHG JLUO XQGHU 1HSDO
8QPDUULHG JLUO XQGHU %DQJODGHVK
“If a girl is working and gets married late, it is seen as positive, but not if she marries late due to poverty.â€? )*' ZLWK ER\V LQ D FKLOGUHQ¡V RUJDQLVDWLRQ %DQJODGHVK
“For instance, one of my cousin’s sisters is doing a job. She now gets a handsome salary and got PDUULHG RQH \HDU DJR 6KH FDQ EH D UROH PRGHO 6KH JRW PDUULHG DIWHU EHFRPLQJ >ˉQDQFLDOO\@ independent.â€? )*' ZLWK ER\V LQ D FKLOGUHQ¡V RUJDQLVDWLRQ %DQJODGHVK
&RQWH[W VSHFLĂ€F IDFWRUV GHPRJUDSKLF VKLIWV :KLOH VRFLDO QRUPV IDYRXULQJ HDUO\ PDUULDJH DUH FRPPRQ DFURVV WKH WKUHH FRXQWULHV WKHUH DUH FHUWDLQ FRQWH[W VSHFLĂ€F IDFWRUV WKDW SOD\ DQ LPSRUWDQW UROH ,Q WKH FDVH RI 5DMDVWKDQ WKH GHFOLQLQJ VH[ UDWLR GHFOLQH LQ WKH SURSRUWLRQ RI JLUOV WR ER\V KDV SURPRWHG WKH SUDFWLFH RI Atta Satta, ZKLFK LQYROYHV WKH H[FKDQJH RI a daughter for a daughter-in-law in marriage. Parents who want a bride for their son give their daughter as D EULGH LQ H[FKDQJH HYHQ LI VKH LV YHU\ \RXQJ “If there are less girls, then they also say you give us your daughter, we will give you ours, then they have to give it forcefully; whichever daughter is there, she is ready to get married. No, I don’t agree, it is wrong, but there is no other alternative.â€? )DWKHU RI XQPDUULHG JLUO XQGHU ,QGLD
Prevention of child marriage Perception of girls, boys and parents $OPRVW DOO WKH \RXQJ JLUOV ER\V DQG SDUHQWV LQWHUYLHZHG IRU WKH VWXG\ ZHUH DJDLQVW FKLOG PDUULDJH DQG UHFRPPHQGHG D YDULHW\ RI PHWKRGV IRU SUHYHQWLQJ LW VXFK DV UDLVLQJ DZDUHQHVV VWULFW LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ RI ODZV HUDGLFDWLRQ RI WKH GRZU\ DQG SURPRWLQJ JLUOV¡ HGXFDWLRQ 21
,Q 1HSDO ER\V DQG JLUOV DOVR VXJJHVWHG FROOHFWLYH LQLWLDWLYHV FRPLQJ IURP FKLOGUHQ DQG FRPPXQLWLHV LQFOXGLQJ UHOLJLRXV OHDGHUV “If children in a village become united and start to oppose child marriage collectively, parents stop marrying their children. Last year we tried to stop the child marriage of a 12-year-old girl. She has no father and her mother wanted to send her daughter to the husband’s home. We protested against the marriage, but the bride’s mother was not ready to stop the marriage; she, however, SURPLVHG WKDW VKH ZLOO VHQG KHU GDXJKWHU >WR KHU KXVEDQGČ V KRPH@ DIWHU D IHZ \HDUV ČŁ 0DUULHG ER\ XQGHU 1HSDO
Plan / Alf Berg
Shanti (left) is a 14-year-old girl from Bihar, India. Shanti’s parents planned for her to get married at the age of just 13. However, Shanti attended a child rights group and learnt about girls’ participation, girls’ education, early marriage and pregnancy. The youth group helped to convince her parents that marriage was not the best thing for her at such a young age. Since Shanti escaped marriage, she has continued to attend school.
3HUFHSWLRQ RI FRPPXQLW\ OHDGHUV DQG JRYHUQPHQW RIĂ€FLDOV &RPPXQLW\ OHDGHUV DQG JRYHUQPHQW RIĂ€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Ă€FHUV LQWHUYLHZHG EHOLHYHG WKDW HYHQ LI WKH JRYHUQPHQW DOUHDG\ KDV OHJLVODWLRQ DQG VWULFW PRQLWRULQJ LQ SODFH UHDO FKDQJH ZLOO FRPH RQO\ LI IDPLOLHV DQG SDUHQWV EHOLHYHG LQ WKH YDOXH RI JLUO FKLOGUHQ UDWKHU WKDQ WUHDWLQJ WKHP DV EXUGHQV “Families don’t know the consequences of child marriage. They are willing to arrange the marriage of a daughter as early as possible because they are taking a girl as a burden, and if a girl chooses any boy it would be a big issue; that’s why they don’t want to take the risk. They are always worried for their girls; when and where to marry. They also do not have a good residence to keep their daughter safe at night.â€? /RFDO 'HYHORSPHQW 2IĂ€FHU 1HSDO
2WKHUV FDOOHG IRU LPSURYHG FRRUGLQDWLRQ DPRQJ WKH GLIIHUHQW VWDNHKROGHUV DQG WKH QHHG IRU ORQJ WHUP DQG VWUDWHJLF SODQV E\ WKH JRYHUQPHQW
22
Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal
“Well, I will again say that different government, non-government and social organisations have to make a joint initiative. Advocacy is a big issue, to make the people aware that with child marriage WKHUH LV D SRVVLELOLW\ RI ULVN DQG KRZ LW LV EHQHˉFLDO LI LW LV QRW GRQH $OO WKHVH LVVXHV KDYH WR EH SURPRWHG WKLV LV WKH ELJ WKLQJ 0DQ\ SHRSOH GR QRW NQRZ ZKDW FKLOG PDUULDJH LV DQG DW ZKDW DJH a girl can be married off; the problems are if a girl aged 14 or 15 years is married off. Actually, WKH\ GR QRW NQRZ DOO WKHVH >LVVXHV@ ČŁ 2IĂ€FHU LQ &KDUJH %DQJODGHVK
&RPPXQLW\ OHDGHUV LQ %DQJODGHVK DUH DSSUHFLDWLYH RI WKH FKLOG PDUULDJH SUHYHQWLRQ HIIRUWV RI RUJDQLVDWLRQV OLNH 3ODQ DQG VWDWH WKDW WKH KRXVH WR KRXVH RXWUHDFK GRQH E\ 3ODQ LQ WKH FRPPXQLW\ KDV EHHQ HIIHFWLYH
Cases of child marriages prevented 7KH VWXG\ DOVR H[SORUHG FKLOG PDUULDJH SUHYHQWLRQ DQG DVNHG UHVSRQGHQWV DERXW FDVHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH WKDW ZHUH VXFFHVVIXOO\ SUHYHQWHG ,Q DOO WKUHH FRXQWULHV WKHUH DUH HIIRUWV E\ 3ODQ RWKHU 1*2V DQG JRYHUQPHQW WR LGHQWLI\ DQG SUHYHQW FKLOG PDUULDJH WKURXJK FRPPXQLW\ DFWLRQ DQG OHJDO UHFRXUVH )RU LQVWDQFH 3ODQ VXSSRUWV FRPPXQLW\ EDVHG RUJDQLVDWLRQV &%2V IRU FKLOGUHQ DQG DGXOWV WR SUHYHQW IDPLOLHV IURP PDUU\LQJ FKLOGUHQ DQG PRWLYDWH ORFDO OHDGHUV WR XVH WKHLU LQà XHQFH 7KH SURKLELWLRQ DJDLQVW PDUULDJH UHJLVWUDUV DQG JRYHUQPHQW RIÀFHUV UHJLVWHULQJ PDUULDJHV RI SHUVRQV EHORZ WKH OHJDO DJH LV DQRWKHU PHFKDQLVP RI prevention. 5HVSRQGHQWV IURP WKH FRPPXQLW\ DQG JRYHUQPHQW ZHUH IUDQN LQ DGPLWWLQJ WKDW WKHUH ZHUH IHZ FDVHV ZKHUH FKLOG PDUULDJH KDG EHHQ SUHYHQWHG %RWK FRPPXQLW\ PHPEHUV DQG JRYHUQPHQW RIÀFHUV IHOW WKDW SUHYHQWLQJ FKLOG PDUULDJH LV GLIÀFXOW IRU WZR UHDVRQV )LUVW SHRSOH KDG EHFRPH DZDUH DERXW FKLOG PDUULDJH ODZV DQG FRQGXFWHG VXFK PDUULDJHV FODQGHVWLQHO\ WR DYRLG EHLQJ FDXJKW )RU LQVWDQFH WKH\ ZRXOG FRQGXFW WKH PDUULDJH DZD\ IURP WKHLU KRPHV RU QRW GLVFORVH WKH GDWH RI WKH FHUHPRQ\ 6HFRQG LQ PRVW FDVHV WKH LVVXH FRPHV WR OLJKW RQO\ DIWHU DOO WKH DUUDQJHPHQWV KDYH EHHQ PDGH DQG WKH FRQFHUQHG SDUWLHV KDYH VSHQW VLJQLÀFDQW VXPV RI PRQH\ 7KH VWRSSLQJ RI D PDUULDJH DW WKLV VWDJH ZRXOG QRW RQO\ KXUW D IDPLO\¡V KRQRXU EXW DOVR FDXVH VHYHUH ÀQDQFLDO ORVV 7KH FDVHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH WKDW ZHUH SUHYHQWHG IDOO LQWR WZR FDWHJRULHV )LUVW D JLUO ZKRVH PDUULDJH ZDV EHLQJ DUUDQJHG UHVLVWHG DQG RSSRVHG KHU SDUHQWV¡ GHFLVLRQ 7KHVH ZHUH PRVWO\ FDVHV RI JLUOV ZKR ZHUH LGHQWLÀHG DV UROH PRGHOV LQ WKH VWXG\ DQG ZKHUH \RXQJ JLUOV KDYH WDNHQ WKH GHFLVLYH VWHS RI FKDOOHQJLQJ HVWDEOLVKHG QRUPV ,Q VRPH RI WKHVH FDVHV WKH JLUOV VRXJKW WKH VXSSRUW RI D FKLOGUHQ¡V RUJDQLVDWLRQ 0 Ȣ'LG \RX VWRS WKH PDUULDJH DFFRUGLQJ WR KHU DUJXPHQW"ȣ 3 Ȣ1R VKH FULHG D ORW EXW ZH GLG QRW DJUHH WKHQ WR VWRS KHU PDUULDJH 7KHQ VKH WROG DQ RUJDQLVDWLRQ DQG >D 3ODQ %DQJODGHVK ZRUNHU@ IURP KHU organisation came to make us understand. Then we decided to stop her marriage.� 0RWKHU RI UROH PRGHO XQGHU %DQJODGHVK
7KH VHFRQG FDWHJRU\ RI FDVHV LQFOXGHV WKRVH ZKHUH FRPPXQLW\ DFWLRQ ZDV LQVWUXPHQWDO LQ SUHYHQWLQJ D FKLOG PDUULDJH Ȣ:H VXFFHHGHG LQ VWRSSLQJ D FKLOG PDUULDJH LQ 3XUDLQD 9'& ZKHUH D JLUO RI \HDUV DQG D ER\ of 12 years were getting married. We informed and activated the child marriage network. We also informed police, the women’s network and a journalist. We convinced the parents of the girl, informing them about the disadvantages of child marriage and the child marriage law, and VXFFHHGHG >LQ VWRSSLQJ WKH PDUULDJH@ ȣ 5ROH PRGHO ZKR LV XQPDUULHG DQG DERYH 1HSDO
23
7KHVH IHZ FDVHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH SUHYHQWLRQ LQYROYHG FRPPXQLW\ PHPEHUV SROLFH RIĂ€FHUV DQG ORFDO OHDGHUV FRRSHUDWLQJ WR SUHYHQW WKH PDUULDJH 7KLV LOOXVWUDWHV WKH LPSRUWDQFH RI FRRUGLQDWLRQ EHWZHHQ WKH GLIIHUHQW VWDNHKROGHUV DQG WKH QHHG WR LQYROYH ERWK WKH IRUPDO VWUXFWXUHV RI WKH VWDWH DQG WKH FRPPXQLW\ IRU D VWURQJ VRFLDO PRYHPHQW DJDLQVW FKLOG PDUULDJH
Role model girls and parents: cases of positive deviance 7KH VWXG\ DOVR LGHQWLÀHG FDVHV RI \RXQJ JLUOV DQG SDUHQWV ZKR FRXOG EH VHHQ DV FDVHV RI SRVLWLYH GHYLDQFH DQG UROH PRGHOV LQ WKHLU FRPPXQLWLHV EHFDXVH RI WKHLU SRVLWLRQ DJDLQVW FKLOG PDUULDJH 7KHVH UROH PRGHOV were found both in Plan’s programme and non-programme areas.
Plan / Bernice Wong
Rujina from Bangladesh is 16 years old. She was married at 12 and had a baby at 14. She loved attending school and speaks fondly of those days. After her marriage, she had to give up her education to be a mother and homemaker.
3DUHQWV ZKR GHOD\HG WKHLU GDXJKWHU¡V PDUULDJH LQ WKH IDFH RI VRFLDO SUHVVXUHV GLG VR EHFDXVH WKH\ GLG QRW ZDQW D PDUULDJH EHIRUH WKH JLUO KDG FRPSOHWHG DW OHDVW KLJK VFKRRO RU XQLYHUVLW\ &OHDUO\ WKHVH UROH PRGHO SDUHQWV KDYH LQWHUQDOLVHG WKH YDOXH RI HGXFDWLRQ ,Q DGGLWLRQ PDQ\ RI WKHP IHOW WKDW PDUU\LQJ D JLUO HDUO\ ZDV GHWULPHQWDO WR KHU SK\VLFDO DQG SV\FKRORJLFDO KHDOWK <RXQJ JLUOV LGHQWLĂ&#x20AC;HG DV UROH PRGHOV RIWHQ KDG WR UHVLVW SDUHQWDO SUHVVXUH IRU DQ HDUO\ PDUULDJH 7KHVH JLUOV KHOG WKH FRQYLFWLRQ WKDW WKH\ GLG QRW ZDQW DQ HDUO\ PDUULDJH DQG WKHLU UHVSRQVH WR SUHVVXUH IURP WKHLU SDUHQWV UDQJHG IURP FRQIURQWDWLRQ WR QHJRWLDWLRQ ,Q DOO WKHVH FDVHV WKH JLUOV ZHUH Ă&#x20AC;QDOO\ DEOH WR EULQJ WKHLU SDUHQWV DURXQG WR VKDUH WKHLU SRLQW RI YLHZ *LUOV LQ WKLV FDWHJRU\ GLG QRW VXEVFULEH WR WUDGLWLRQDO JHQGHU UROHV DQG DVSLUHG WR KLJKHU HGXFDWLRQ HPSOR\PHQW DQG HFRQRPLF LQGHSHQGHQFH 0RVW RI WKH UROH PRGHO JLUOV KDG WR IDFH VLJQLĂ&#x20AC;FDQW SDUHQWDO DQG VRFLDO SUHVVXUH 2WKHU JLUOV LQ WKH FRPPXQLW\ ORRN XS WR WKHVH JLUOV DQG WKH\ DUH FLWHG DV H[DPSOHV E\ \RXQJHU JLUOV ZKR ZDQW WR IROORZ VXLW â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to marry only after I get a job. If I get a good job then I will earn money and I can improve my life and then marry. After marriage itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not possible to get a job; some people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t allow [you WR JHW D MRE@ DQG VD\ GR KRXVHZRUN RQO\ 0\ IDPLO\ WROG PH WR JHW PDUULHG QRZ EXW , WROG WKHP WKDW , ZDQW WR Ë&#x2030;UVW JHW D JRRG MRE DQG WKHQ PDUU\ 6R QRZ WKH\ KDYH DJUHHG ČŁ 8QPDUULHG JLUO DERYH ,QGLD
24
Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal
Planâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Child-Centred Community Development interventions and their HIIHFWLYHQHVV Plan / Alf Berg
3ODQ·V SURJUDPPHV LQ WKH WKUHH FRXQWULHV VKDUH FRPPRQ &KLOG &HQWUHG &RPPXQLW\ 'HYHORSPHQW &&&' DSSURDFKHV DQG FKLOGUHQ DUH NH\ SURJUDPPH SDUWLFLSDQWV +RZHYHU WKH LQSXWV SURYLGHG WR WKH FKLOGUHQ YDU\ LQ HDFK FRQWH[W DV GRHV WKH HQJDJHPHQW ZLWK NH\ VWDNHKROGHUV VXFK DV SDUHQWV FRPPXQLW\ OHDGHUV DQG JRYHUQPHQW RIÃ&#x20AC;FHUV 7KH PDQQHU LQ ZKLFK HDFK RI WKH FRXQWU\ SURJUDPPHV DGGUHVVHV WKH LVVXH RI FKLOG PDUULDJH DOVR YDULHV )RU LQVWDQFH 3ODQ %DQJODGHVK KDV D PRUH H[SOLFLW IRFXV RQ WKH SUHYHQWLRQ RI FKLOG PDUULDJH DQG VWURQJ HQJDJHPHQW ZLWK WKH JRYHUQPHQW RQ WKH LVVXH 3ODQ ,QGLD DQG 3ODQ 1HSDO RQ WKH RWKHU KDQG GR QRW KDYH D VSHFLÃ&#x20AC;F SURJUDPPH IRFXV RQ FKLOG PDUULDJH EXW LQFOXGH LW XQGHU EURDGHU FKLOG SURWHFWLRQ SURJUDPPHV ,Q WKLV VHFWLRQ ZH GLVFXVV WKH Ã&#x20AC;QGLQJV ZLWK UHJDUG WR 3ODQ·V SURJUDPPHV WKDW KDYH D EHDULQJ RQ FKLOG PDUULDJH GLUHFWO\ RU LQGLUHFWO\ viii
Plan Bangladesh 3ODQ %DQJODGHVK KDV D VWURQJ IRFXV RQ FKLOG PDUULDJH 3ODQ %DQJODGHVK ZRUNV LQ YDULRXV ZD\V ZLWK FKLOGUHQ DGXOWV ORFDO OHDGHUV DQG JRYHUQPHQW RIÃ&#x20AC;FHUV WR UDLVH DZDUHQHVV LQ FRPPXQLWLHV (YHQ FKLOGUHQ ZKR ZHUH QRW PHPEHUV RI WKH FKLOGUHQ·V RUJDQLVDWLRQV LQ WKHVH DUHDV ZHUH DZDUH RI 3ODQ·V FKLOG ULJKWV PHVVDJHV 3ODQ %DQJODGHVK KDV DOVR ZRUNHG WR UDLVH DZDUHQHVV RI WKH QHJDWLYH FRQVHTXHQFHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH 7KH PRVW FRPPRQO\ UHSRUWHG FRQVHTXHQFHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH ZHUH WKH GDQJHU WR \RXQJ JLUOV· KHDOWK DQG WKH GLIÃ&#x20AC;FXOW\ IDFHG E\ \RXQJ ZRPHQ LQ DGMXVWLQJ WR QHZ UHODWLRQVKLSV $ZDUHQHVV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH DV D YLRODWLRQ RI FKLOG ULJKWV ZDV OHVV FRPPRQO\ UHSRUWHG 7KHUH LV ZLGHVSUHDG DZDUHQHVV DERXW WKH OHJDO DJH IRU PDUULDJH EXW QHJOLJLEOH NQRZOHGJH DERXW WKH SHQDOWLHV 7KLV PD\ EH LQ SDUW GXH WR ZHDN LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ of the legislation. 3ODQ %DQJODGHVK ZRUNV LQ SDUWQHUVKLS ZLWK ORFDO JRYHUQPHQW LQVWLWXWLRQV /*,V WR LGHQWLI\ DQG FHOHEUDWH FKLOG PDUULDJH IUHH YLOODJHV DQG XQLRQV 6XFK HIIRUWV JLYH YLVLELOLW\ WR WKH LVVXH RI FKLOG PDUULDJH DQG GHPRQVWUDWH SXEOLFO\ WKH LPSRUWDQFH RI FKDQJLQJ QRUPV 3ODQ %DQJODGHVK DOVR VXSSRUWV WKH JRYHUQPHQW RI %DQJODGHVK LQ LWV HIIRUWV WR LQVWLWXWH RQOLQH XQLYHUVDO ELUWK UHJLVWUDWLRQ WR HQDEOH LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ RI OHJLVODWLRQ DJDLQVW FKLOG PDUULDJH 2QOLQH UHJLVWUDWLRQ PDNHV LW H[WUHPHO\ GLIÃ&#x20AC;FXOW WR IDOVLI\ D FKLOG·V DJH RQFH LW KDV EHHQ HQWHUHG LQ WKH UHFRUGV DW ELUWK DQG WKXV SUHYHQWV IDOVH ELUWK FHUWLÃ&#x20AC;FDWHV 3ODQ·V &&&' DSSURDFK SURPRWHV OLQNDJHV ZLWK WHDFKHUV UHOLJLRXV OHDGHUV DQG RWKHU FRPPXQLW\ OHDGHUV 3ODQ %DQJODGHVK·V SUHVHQFH LQ WKH FRPPXQLW\ LV UHFRJQLVHG E\ ORFDO OHDGHUV ZKR DUH DSSUHFLDWLYH RI WKH RXWUHDFK PDGH SRVVLEOH ZLWK WKH RUJDQLVDWLRQ·V VXSSRUW ,Q DGGLWLRQ WKH FKLOGUHQ·V RUJDQLVDWLRQV IDFLOLWDWHG E\ 3ODQ %DQJODGHVK DSSHDU WR EH LPSRUWDQW FKDQQHOV IRU EXLOGLQJ WKH FRQÃ&#x20AC;GHQFH DQG QHJRWLDWLRQ VNLOOV RI FKLOGUHQ WR DVVHUW WKHPVHOYHV
Plan Nepal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·V FOXEV 7KH SURJUDPPH SURYLGHV OLIH VNLOOV HGXFDWLRQ WR DGROHVFHQW JLUOV DQG ER\V DQG FRYHUV D IDPLO\ OLIH HGXFDWLRQ UHSURGXFWLYH KHDOWK HGXFDWLRQ DQG VHUYLFHV WR WKHP E QRQ IRUPDO HGXFDWLRQ DQG F VNLOOV DQG YRFDWLRQDO WUDLQLQJ 7KH LVVXH RI FKLOG PDUULDJH LV GLVFXVVHG LQ WKH FRXUVH RI WKLV WUDLQLQJ SURJUDPPH 25
)LQGLQJV LQGLFDWH WKDW FKLOGUHQ ZKR SDUWLFLSDWHG LQ %/23 RU FKLOGUHQ·V FOXE DFWLYLWLHV KDG PDQ\ SRVLWLYH H[SHULHQFHV WR UHODWH DQG HPSKDVLVHG WKDW WKH H[SRVXUH KHOSHG WKHP WR EHWWHU H[SUHVV WKHPVHOYHV DQG HQKDQFHG WKHLU VHOI FRQÀGHQFH
Plan India ,Q 5DMDVWKDQ D SURJUDPPH VXSSRUWHG E\ 3ODQ RUJDQLVHV UHVLGHQWLDO HGXFDWLRQ FDPSV IRU JLUOV ZKR GURS RXW RI VFKRRO RU KDYH QHYHU HQUROOHG 7KHVH FDPSV DUH EULGJLQJ SURJUDPPHV WKDW KHOS SDUWLFLSDQWV HQURO LQ VFKRRO DIWHU WKH FRPSOHWLRQ RI WKH SURJUDPPH 7KH VSHFLÀF LPSDFW RI WKH FDPSV RQ FKLOG PDUULDJH ZDV GLIÀFXOW WR LVRODWH VLQFH WKH FHQWUDO IRFXV RI WKH SURJUDPPH ZDV GLUHFWHG WRZDUGV SURPRWLQJ HGXFDWLRQ DQG UDLVLQJ DZDUHQHVV RI LWV EHQHÀWV +RZHYHU WKH H[SHULHQFHV RI VRPH JLUOV ZKR KDG DWWHQGHG WKH UHVLGHQWLDO FDPSV GR VXSSRUW WKH HYLGHQFH WKDW LQFUHDVHG HGXFDWLRQ RI JLUOV UHVXOWV LQ GHOD\LQJ WKH DJH DW PDUULDJH E\ D IHZ \HDUV LI QRW HQGLQJ WKH SUDFWLFH RI FKLOG PDUULDJH
6XFFHVVIXO VWUDWHJLHV DGRSWHG E\ 3ODQ 7KLV VHFWLRQ GLVFXVVHV WKH VXFFHVVIXO VWUDWHJLHV DGRSWHG E\ 3ODQ LQ WKH WKUHH &2V WR GHOD\ WKH PDUULDJH RI FKLOGUHQ DQG SUHYHQW HDUO\ PDUULDJHV RI JLUOV 6L[ VWUDWHJLHV DUH GLVFXVVHG KHUH
Children’s organisations 3URPRWLQJ DQG SURYLGLQJ VXVWDLQHG VXSSRUW WR FKLOGUHQ·V RUJDQLVDWLRQV LV D VXFFHVVIXO VWUDWHJ\ IRU HQVXULQJ FKLOGUHQ·V SDUWLFLSDWLRQ DQG RZQHUVKLS LQ SODWIRUPV IRU FUHDWLQJ DZDUHQHVV DERXW WKH QHJDWLYH FRQVHTXHQFHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH 3ODQ SURJUDPPHV LQ WKH WKUHH FRXQWULHV DUH DOUHDG\ GRLQJ WKLV ZLWK GLIIHUHQW GHJUHHV RI LQWHQVLW\ 3DUWLFLSDWLRQ LQ WKHVH RUJDQLVDWLRQV KDV EXLOW FKLOGUHQ·V FDSDFLWLHV DQG expanded their worldviews. 7KHUH LV HYLGHQFH WKDW SDUWLFLSDWLRQ LQ WKHVH RUJDQLVDWLRQV KDV SURYLGHG FKLOGUHQ ZLWK WKH NQRZOHGJH DQG VNLOOV WR QHJRWLDWH ZLWK DGXOWV DQG SUHYHQW WKHLU RZQ HDUO\ PDUULDJH 6WUHQJWKHQLQJ WKHVH RUJDQLVDWLRQV FDQ HQKDQFH WKHLU SRWHQWLDO DV SUHVVXUH JURXSV LQ WKH FRPPXQLW\ WR VXSSRUW FKDQJH LQ VRFLDO QRUPV UHJDUGLQJ WKH DJH DW ZKLFK PDUULDJH LV DUUDQJHG RU HQWHUHG LQWR
Partnering with government and civil society 3DUWQHUVKLSV EHWZHHQ FLYLO VRFLHW\ RUJDQLVDWLRQV DQG JRYHUQPHQW IRU WKH SUHYHQWLRQ RI FKLOG PDUULDJH VHHP WR \LHOG SRVLWLYH UHVXOWV 7KH VFDOH RI JRYHUQPHQW SURJUDPPHV FRPELQHG ZLWK FRPPXQLW\ RXWUHDFK RI FLYLO VRFLHW\ RUJDQLVDWLRQV HQVXUHV WKDW WKH UHVSHFWLYH VWUHQJWKV RI WKH WZR VHFWRUV DUH V\QHUJLVHG IRU SRVLWLYH UHVXOWV )RU H[DPSOH 3ODQ %DQJODGHVK·V ZRUN ZLWK WKH Union Parishads ORFDO JRYHUQPHQWV WR GHFODUH FKLOG PDUULDJH IUHH Unions LV HIIHFWLYH LQ JLYLQJ YLVLELOLW\ WR WKH LVVXH DQG UDLVLQJ DZDUHQHVV
Engaging with community leaders (QGLQJ FKLOG PDUULDJH UHTXLUHV D FKDQJH LQ VRFLDO QRUPV DQG LQÁXHQWLDO SHUVRQV LQ WKH FRPPXQLW\ VXFK DV UHOLJLRXV OHDGHUV DQG WHDFKHUV SOD\ VWURQJ UROHV LQ XSKROGLQJ RU FKDOOHQJLQJ WKH status quo. Plan engages with WKHVH SHUVRQV DQG LQYLWHV WKHLU SDUWLFLSDWLRQ LQ FRPPXQLW\ HYHQWV 0HVVDJHV FRPLQJ IURP WKHVH OHDGHUV DURXQG WKH YDOXH RI JLUOV· HGXFDWLRQ RU WKH QHHG WR VWRS GRZU\ SUDFWLFHV FDQ EH YHU\ HIIHFWLYH LQ LQÁXHQFLQJ SXEOLF RSLQLRQ 3ODQ·V &&&' DSSURDFK UHFRJQLVHV WKH YDOXH RI WKLV HQJDJHPHQW ZLWK FRPPXQLW\ OHDGHUV )XUWKHU H[SDQGLQJ WKLV DSSURDFK ZLOO VWUHQJWKHQ SURJUHVV WRZDUGV WKH HQG RI FKLOG PDUULDJH
Raising awareness about child marriage as a violation of child rights $OO FRXQWU\ SURJUDPPHV DQG QDWLRQDO JRYHUQPHQWV DUH DFWLYHO\ UDLVLQJ DZDUHQHVV DERXW WKH QHJDWLYH FRQVHTXHQFHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH DQG WKHUH LV IDLUO\ ZLGHVSUHDG DZDUHQHVV DERXW WKH LOOHJDOLW\ RI PDUULDJH EHIRUH WKH DJH RI 3ODQ·V XQLTXH FRQWULEXWLRQ LV WKH OLQNDJH RI FKLOG PDUULDJH WR WKH YLRODWLRQ RI FKLOG ULJKWV 3DUHQWV FKLOGUHQ DQG JRYHUQPHQW RIÀFHUV ZKR KDG EHHQ H[SRVHG WR 3ODQ·V SURJUDPPHV KDG LQFUHDVHG DZDUHQHVV DERXW FKLOG ULJKWV DQG LGHQWLÀHG FKLOG PDUULDJH DV D ULJKWV YLRODWLRQ
26
Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal
Facilitating secondary education
Plan
,I JLUOV FRPSOHWH VHFRQGDU\ HGXFDWLRQ EHIRUH JHWWLQJ PDUULHG WKH\ DUH PRUH OLNHO\ WR DYRLG EHLQJ PDUULHG EHIRUH DJH 6LQJK 6DPDUD 0XUSK\ &DUU 3ODQ ,QGLD·V SDUWQHU LQ 5DMDVWKDQ 8UPXO 6(78 RUJDQLVHV UHVLGHQWLDO HGXFDWLRQDO FDPSV IRU JLUOV WR KHOS WKHP FRPSOHWH PLGGOH VHFRQGDU\ DQG KLJKHU VHFRQGDU\ VFKRRO 7KHVH FDPSV QRW RQO\ SURYLGH D VDIH VSDFH ZKHUH SDUHQWV DUH ZLOOLQJ WR VHQG WKHLU GDXJKWHUV WKH\ DOVR DUH DQ RSSRUWXQLW\ IRU EURDG EDVHG FDSDFLW\ EXLOGLQJ DQG OLIH VNLOOV HGXFDWLRQ 3ODQ·V SURJUDPPHV LQ DOO WKUHH FRXQWULHV DOVR VXSSRUW NHHSLQJ JLUOV LQ VHFRQGDU\ VFKRRO through various avenues.
Employing girls in paid work outside the house 7R UHGXFH WKH LQFLGHQFH RI FKLOG PDUULDJH VRFLDOO\ YDOXHG UROHV IRU ZRPHQ PXVW H[SDQG EH\RQG WKRVH RI EHLQJ D ZLIH DQG PRWKHU %URDGHQLQJ RSSRUWXQLWLHV IRU ZRPHQ PDNHV LW PHDQLQJIXO IRU SDUHQWV WR LQYHVW LQ D JLUO·V HGXFDWLRQ 3ODQ %DQJODGHVK DSSRLQWV \RXQJ ZRPHQ LQ WKH FRPPXQLW\ DV WHDFKHUV LQ WKHLU FKLOG GHYHORSPHQW FHQWUHV DQG 3ODQ VXSSRUWHG VFKRROV WKXV FUHDWLQJ QHZ SDWKZD\V IRU ZRPHQ WR GHYHORS DQG DFKLHYH WKHLU DVSLUDWLRQV
&RQFOXVLRQ 7KH VWXG\ Ã&#x20AC;QGLQJV FRQÃ&#x20AC;UP WKDW WKH HDUO\ PDUULDJH RI JLUOV LV VRFLDOO\ YDOXHG DQG VWLOO D ZLGHVSUHDG SUDFWLFH LQ %DQJODGHVK ,QGLD DQG 1HSDO ,W UHPDLQV FRPPRQ EHFDXVH LW LV URRWHG LQ XQGHUO\LQJ SDWULDUFKDO YDOXHV DQG JHQGHU QRUPV VHH )LJXUH 0DUULDJH IRU JLUOV LV VHHQ DV QHFHVVDU\ DQG LQHYLWDEOH SURWHFWLQJ D GDXJKWHU·V FKDVWLW\ XQWLO VKH LV PDUULHG DQG DUUDQJLQJ WKDW PDUULDJH DUH HVVHQWLDO SDUHQWDO UHVSRQVLELOLWLHV DV VWHZDUGV RI KHU UHSURGXFWLYH SRWHQWLDO DQG VH[XDOLW\ 3DUHQWV· IHDUV RI IDLOLQJ WR PHHW WKRVH UHVSRQVLELOLWLHV DQG IDFLQJ VWLJPD DUH DJJUDYDWHG E\ WKH WKUHDW RI VH[XDO YLROHQFH DJDLQVW ZRPHQ DQG JLUOV DQG WKH DSSDUHQW ULVH LQ DGROHVFHQWV FKRRVLQJ WKHLU VSRXVHV DQG HORSLQJ LQGHSHQGHQW RI SDUHQWDO FRQVHQW 0HQ·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·V GHVLUHV
Patriarchal values as factors in child marriage Â&#x2021; (PSKDVLV RQ YLUJLQLW\ ² IHDU RI VH[XDO YLROHQFH FRPSRXQGHG E\ LQVHFXUH SXEOLF VSDFHV Â&#x2021; )HDU RI HORSHPHQW ² GDPDJH WR IDPLO\ KRQRXU Â&#x2021; 3RRU FRPPXQLFDWLRQ EHWZHHQ SDUHQWV DQG JLUOV LQH[SHULHQFH RI JLUOV LQ DUWLFXODWLQJ GLVVHQW and negotiation. Â&#x2021; :RPHQ DQG JLUOV DV FRPPRGLWLHV IRU H[FKDQJH EHWZHHQ IDPLOLHV Â&#x2021; %HOLHI WKDW PHQ DUH RQO\ DWWUDFWHG WR \RXQJ JLUOV
Figure 1
27
$W WKH KRXVHKROG OHYHO GHHS VHDWHG SDWULDUFKDO YDOXHV LQWHUDFW ZLWK IDPLO\ HFRQRPLFV 8UEDQ EHWWHU HGXFDWHG DQG HFRQRPLFDOO\ VHFXUH IDPLOLHV DUH PRUH OLNHO\ WR DFFHSW WKH ULVNV DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK GHOD\LQJ PDUULDJH DQG FRQWLQXLQJ WKH HGXFDWLRQ RI D GDXJKWHU (YHQ LI ZRPHQ DUH QRW H[SHFWHG WR ZRUN RXWVLGH WKH KRPH DIWHU PDUULDJH FRPSOHWLRQ RI VHFRQGDU\ VFKRRO LV EHFRPLQJ WKH QRUP DPRQJ IDPLOLHV RI KLJKHU HFRQRPLF VWDWXV
Plan
)DPLOLHV OLYLQJ LQ SRYHUW\ DQG WKRVH OHVV H[SRVHG WR WKH EHQHÀWV RI IRUPDO HGXFDWLRQ WHQG WR FRQWLQXH ZLWK FKLOG PDUULDJH IRU D YDULHW\ RI UHDVRQV VHH )LJXUH )RU WKHVH IDPLOLHV D GDXJKWHU·V VHFRQGDU\ HGXFDWLRQ EULQJV UHDO FRVWV DQG RSSRUWXQLW\ FRVWV ZLWK OLWWOH LQ UHWXUQ 7KH daughter will leave the natal family and most likely be a KRPH PDNHU DQG PRWKHU ZKRVH ODERXU DQG VNLOOV EHQHÀ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ÀQDQFLDO VXFFHVV VXFK DV D JRRG KDUYHVW PD\ EULQJ SDUHQWV WR GHFLGH WR PDUU\ D GDXJKWHU EHIRUH WKH GRZU\ QHHGHG GLVDSSHDUV LQWR RWKHU KRXVHKROG FRVWV
Links between poverty and child marriage
&RVWV RI HGXFDWLRQ WRR KLJK GURSRXWV PRUH OLNHO\ WR EH PDUULHG *URXS RU H[FKDQJHG PDUULDJHV UHGXFH FHUHPRQ\ FRVWV /HVV GRZU\ IRU \RXQJHU JLUOV )LQDQFLDO LQVHFXULW\ PDUU\ D GDXJKWHU ZKHQ WKH GRZU\ LV DYDLODEOH Figure 2
The good news is that aspirations and new possibilities for women’s roles are rising. A family’s or girl’s H[SRVXUH WR UROH PRGHOV ² JLUOV ZKR DUH DEOH WR FRQWLQXH WKHLU HGXFDWLRQ DQG RU GHOD\ WKHLU PDUULDJH ZLWK VXSSRUW IURP WKHLU SDUHQWV DQG ZRPHQ HQWHULQJ SDLG ZRUN ² EURDGHQV WKHLU SHUFHLYHG RSWLRQV ,Q UHFHQW \HDUV WKH VRFLDO XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI HDUO\ PDUULDJH VHHPV WR EH FKDQJLQJ IURP \HDUV WR \HDUV :KDW DFWLRQV FDQ EH WDNHQ WR FRQWLQXH SURJUHVV LQ WKLV GLUHFWLRQ" $OWKRXJK WKHUH ZDV D KLJK OHYHO RI DZDUHQHVV UHJDUGLQJ WKH OHJDO PDUU\LQJ DJH DPRQJ WKH VWXG\ SDUWLFLSDQWV WKH LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ RI OHJLVODWLRQ LV VWLOO ZHDN DV ODZV DUH H[WHQVLYHO\ ÁRXWHG DQG SURVHFXWLRQ LV UDUHO\ SXUVXHG 7KHUH DUH D IHZ LQVWDQFHV ZKHUH JLUOV KDYH VXFFHVVIXOO\ UHEHOOHG DJDLQVW FKLOG PDUULDJHV VRPH ZLWK WKH VXSSRUW RI FKLOG ULJKWV RUJDQLVDWLRQV +RZHYHU VXFK FDVHV DUH UDUH DQG JLUOV DUH JHQHUDOO\ XQDEOH WR UHVLVW IDPLO\ DQG VRFLDO pressures. 7KH VWXG\ ÀQGLQJV FOHDUO\ GHPRQVWUDWH DQ LPPHGLDWH QHHG WR DGRSW D PXOWL SURQJHG DSSURDFK WKDW V\VWHPDWLFDOO\ DGGUHVVHV WKH HDUO\ PDUULDJH RI JLUOV DQG ER\V 6RPH VWUDWHJLHV DQG SURJUDPPHV DUH ZRUNLQJ ZHOO DQG ZLOO EHQHÀ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ÀF UHFRPPHQGDWLRQV HPHUJLQJ IURP WKH VWXG\ ÀQGLQJV DUH GLVFXVVHG below.
28
Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal
5HFRPPHQGDWLRQV For programming 7KH UHFRPPHQGDWLRQV GLVFXVVHG LQ WKH QH[W WZR VHFWLRQV DUH EDVHG RQ WKH Ã&#x20AC;QGLQJV RI WKLV VWXG\ DQG SUHYLRXV ZRUN RQ FKLOG PDUULDJH FRPSOHWHG E\ WKH ,&5: 6RPH RI WKH UHFRPPHQGDWLRQV DUH PLUURUHG LQ the ACMI framework developed by Plan.
1. Develop systems for regular engagement with parents 6WUHQJWKHQ &%2V DQG GHYHORS V\VWHPV IRU WKHP WR HQJDJH UHJXODUO\ ZLWK WKH IDPLOLHV LQ WKHLU FRPPXQLW\ 7KH IDPLO\ DV DQ LQVWLWXWLRQ SOD\V D VLJQLÃ&#x20AC;FDQW UROH LQ WKH SHUSHWXDWLRQ RI FKLOG PDUULDJH )XUWKHUPRUH WKH FRQWLQXDWLRQ RI D JLUO·V HGXFDWLRQ DQG D GHOD\ LQ KHU PDUULDJH GHSHQGV JUHDWO\ RQ IDPLO\ VXSSRUW 3ODQ·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ensure that they do not marry their daughters before age 18.
2. Engage with male members of the family D (QJDJH ZLWK DGXOW PDOHV ,Q DOO WKUHH FRXQWULHV RI WKLV VWXG\ WKH IDWKHU ZDV WKH PDLQ GHFLVLRQ PDNHU UHJDUGLQJ WKH GDXJKWHU·V PDUULDJH )DWKHUV DUH DOVR WKH RQHV ZKR DUH PRUH OLNHO\ WR EH UHOXFWDQW WR DOORZ FKLOGUHQ·V SDUWLFLSDWLRQ LQ FKLOGUHQ·V RUJDQLVDWLRQV (QVXUH WKDW WKH FOXE YHQXHV DQG PHHWLQJ WLPHV DUH VDIH IRU FKLOGUHQ DQG SURYLGH UHDVVXUDQFHV WR SDUHQWV E :RUN ZLWK \RXQJ PHQ DQG ER\V LQ WKH IDPLO\ 0DQ\ UHVSRQGHQWV VDLG WKDW SDUHQWV DUH PRUH OLNHO\ to listen to sons than to daughters. 7KHUH DUH H[DPSOHV RI SURJUDPPHV HPEHGGLQJ D JHQGHU WUDQVIRUPDWLYH DSSURDFK WR VXFFHVVIXOO\ IDFLOLWDWH \RXQJ PHQ LQ FKDOOHQJLQJ WKH GRPLQDQW XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI PDQKRRG DQG WKHLU RZQ LQHTXLWDEOH attitudes. A review of programmes aimed at involving males found that those interventions that LQFOXGHG D JHQGHU WUDQVIRUPDWLYH DSSURDFK ZKHUH PHQ TXHVWLRQ DQG PRGLI\ WKHLU JHQGHUHG DWWLWXGHV ZHUH PRUH HIIHFWLYH WKDQ WKRVH ZLWKRXW D JHQGHU FRPSRQHQW 7HPLQ /HYLQH $Q ,&5: VWXG\ IRXQG WKDW ER\V ZKR ZHUH WUDLQHG DV SHHU HGXFDWRUV IRU DGYRFDF\ RI ODWHU PDUULDJH ZHUH VWURQJ VXSSRUWHUV RI GHOD\LQJ PDUULDJH IRU WKH VDNH RI JLUOV· RZQ SUHIHUHQFHV DQG ZHOOEHLQJ *XSWD HW DO 2QH H[DPSOH SURMHFW 7KH *HQGHU (TXLW\ 0RYHPHQW LQ 6FKRROV *(06 SURJUDPPH ZRUNV ZLWK PXQLFLSDO ERGLHV GLVWULFW DXWKRULWLHV DQG ORFDO 1*2V LQ D ELG WR UHDFK WKRXVDQGV RI VWXGHQWV DQG WHDFKHUV LQ VFKRROV DQG WKH ZLGHU FRPPXQLW\ 7KH DLP RI *(06 LV
Plan
In India, Aisha (right) was 13 when she became a child bride and dropped out of school. Now, at the age of 16, she is four months pregnant. She has been rolling beedis ever since she came to live with her husbandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family.
29
WR SURPRWH JHQGHU HTXLWDEOH QRUPV DWWLWXGHV DQG EHKDYLRXUV LQ D VFKRRO VHWWLQJ ZLWK D YLHZ WR UHGXFLQJ QHJDWLYH VH[XDO DQG UHSURGXFWLYH KHDOWK RXWFRPHV DPRQJ ER\V DQG JLUOV DJHG ,Q DGGLWLRQ WKH )DPLO\ 9LROHQFH 3UHYHQWLRQ )XQG DQG WKH ,&5: DUH LPSOHPHQWLQJ D SURJUDPPH WLWOHG &RDFKLQJ %R\V LQWR 0HQ IRU XVH ZLWK FULFNHW SOD\HUV WKHLU FRDFKHV DQG SHHUV LQ 0DKDUDVKWUD ,QGLD ,&5: D
3. Use mass media to spread the campaign in the community 7HOHYLVLRQ LV EHFRPLQJ LQFUHDVLQJO\ FRPPRQ HYHQ LQ UXUDO DUHDV DQG VHYHUDO UHVSRQGHQWV PHQWLRQHG WKDW WHOHYLVLRQ VKRZV KDG LQFUHDVHG WKHLU DZDUHQHVV DERXW WKH QHJDWLYH FRQVHTXHQFHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH 3URJUDPPHV FDQ KDUQHVV PDVV PHGLD IRU FDPSDLJQV DJDLQVW FKLOG PDUULDJH DV D ZD\ WR LQÁXHQFH SXEOLF RSLQLRQ (PSKDVLVH UHVSHFW IRU WKH GHFLVLRQV RI ER\V DQG JLUOV WR UHPDLQ XQPDUULHG DV ORQJ DV WKH\ ZLVK rather than stigmatising the unmarried ones.
4. Strengthen capacities to empower girls and boys D %XLOG WKH FDSDFLWLHV RI \RXQJ ZRPHQ DQG PHQ WR QHJRWLDWH LQ D QRQ FRQIURQWDWLRQDO PDQQHU 7KLV ZLOO HQDEOH WKHP WR WDNH D ÀUP SRVLWLRQ ZLWKRXW HQGDQJHULQJ IDPLO\ UHODWLRQVKLSV 3DUHQWV DUH SHUVXDGHG DQG LQÁXHQFHG E\ \RXQJ ZRPHQ DQG PHQ ZKR DUWLFXODWH WKHLU YLHZV RQ PDUULDJH DQG HGXFDWLRQ ZLWK FODULW\ 7R GR WKLV FKLOGUHQ DQG \RXQJ SHRSOH QHHG WR KDYH DFFHVV WR LQIRUPDWLRQ DQG WKH FRQÀGHQFH WR H[SUHVV WKHPVHOYHV WR IDPLO\ DQG HVSHFLDOO\ WR DGXOW PDOHV &KLOGUHQ ZKR SDUWLFLSDWH LQ FKLOGUHQ·V organisations develop these skills and abilities only through sustained inputs over a long duration. It is LPSRUWDQW WKDW FKLOGUHQ·V RUJDQLVDWLRQV UHFHLYH FRQWLQXHG VXSSRUW WR PDLQWDLQ PRPHQWXP DIWHU WKH ÀUVW IHZ PHHWLQJV E $GGUHVV WKH SKHQRPHQRQ RI VHOI LQLWLDWHG FKLOG PDUULDJHV :K\ DQG XQGHU ZKDW FLUFXPVWDQFHV GR ER\V DQG JLUOV DW YHU\ \RXQJ DJHV FKRRVH WR PDUU\ RQ WKHLU RZQ ZLWKRXW FRQVHQW IURP WKHLU UHVSHFWLYH IDPLOLHV" *LUOV DQG ER\V PD\ EH HDJHU WR DVVHUW WKHLU LQGHSHQGHQFH HVFDSH IURP DEXVLYH VLWXDWLRQV RU ÀQDQFLDO KDUGVKLSV RU VLPSO\ WR IDOO LQ ORYH DQG EHJLQ VH[XDO DFWLYLW\ 7KH QHHGV DQG GHVLUHV RI DGROHVFHQWV LQFOXGLQJ VH[XDOLW\ WRSLFV VKRXOG EH DGGUHVVHG KHDG RQ LQ FKLOGUHQ·V RUJDQLVDWLRQV LQ DQ RSHQ DQG QRQ MXGJPHQWDO PDQQHU PHDQW WR EXLOG FDSDFLWLHV IRU UHVSRQVLEOH GHFLVLRQ PDNLQJ WKDW IXUWKHUV FKLOGUHQ·V ORQJ WHUP LQWHUHVWV
5. Leverage rising aspirations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·V exposure to possibilities. Exposing young girls and their families to potential opportunities and roles IRU ZRPHQ RXWVLGH WKH KRXVH H[SDQGV WKHLU ZRUOGYLHZ 5ROH PRGHOV LQ FRPPXQLWLHV QHHG WR EH LGHQWLÀHG QXUWXUHG DQG SURPRWHG LQ ZD\V WKDW GR QRW SXW WKHP LQ GDQJHU LQ WKHLU SDUWLFXODU VRFLDO DQG SROLWLFDO FRQWH[W 3ODQ %DQJODGHVK LV DOUHDG\ GRLQJ WKLV RQ D VPDOO VFDOH DQG KDV GHYHORSHG ÀOPV DQG RWKHU SURPRWLRQDO PDWHULDO RQ \RXQJ ZRPHQ ZKR KDYH FKDOOHQJHG WUDGLWLRQDO UROHV DQG VRFLDO QRUPV )LOPV DQG PXVLF WKDW FHOHEUDWH WKHVH ZRPHQ ZLOO LQVSLUH RWKHU IDPLOLHV WR WDNH DOWHUQDWH SDWKV
'HYHORS VSHFLÀF SURJUDPPHV DQG PLWLJDWLRQ HIIRUWV IRU PDUULHG FKLOGUHQ a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ÀFDOO\ GHVLJQHG DQG WDUJHWHG WRZDUGV WKHP $W D PLQLPXP RXWUHDFK VHUYLFHV PXVW EH DYDLODEOH LQ VH[XDO DQG UHSURGXFWLYH KHDOWK DQG DGGLWLRQDOO\ OLIH VNLOOV DQG YRFDWLRQDO WUDLQLQJ SURJUDPPHV DQG VXSSRUW JURXSV IRU \RXQJ EULGHV DQG PRWKHUV FDQ KHOS PLWLJDWH WKH UHVXOWV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH 30
Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal
b) (PSKDVLVH WKH YDOXH RI FRPSOHWLQJ VHFRQGDU\ HGXFDWLRQ HYHQ IRU PDUULHG JLUOV WKURXJK FRPPXQLW\ SXEOLF DQG IDPLO\ HGXFDWLRQ FDPSDLJQV 7KLV VWXG\ LQGLFDWHV WKDW HGXFDWLRQ LV YDOXHG QRW RQO\ IRU JHWWLQJ D MRE ERWK SDUHQWV DQG \RXQJ ZRPHQ PHQWLRQHG WKDW EHLQJ DQ HGXFDWHG person helps to be a better mother and home-maker. This sentiment should be leveraged and XVHG WR HQFRXUDJH DOO JLUOV WR DW OHDVW FRPSOHWH VHFRQGDU\ VFKRRO 6FKRODUVKLS SURJUDPPHV VKRXOG EH HTXDOO\ DYDLODEOH IRU WKH HGXFDWLRQ RI PDUULHG JLUOV EXW WKLV LV QRW DOZD\V WKH FDVH )RU H[DPSOH LQ %DQJODGHVK VWLSHQGV DQG VFKRODUVKLSV DUH DYDLODEOH RQO\ IRU WKH HGXFDWLRQ RI XQPDUULHG JLUOV This needs to be reversed.
7. Promote livelihood programmes for women and girls D 3URPRWH YRFDWLRQDO DQG VNLOO EDVHG WUDLQLQJ 7KH HYLGHQFH LQ WKLV VWXG\ RQ WKH UHODWLRQVKLS EHWZHHQ HQJDJHPHQW LQ LQFRPH JHQHUDWLQJ DFWLYLWLHV DQG GHOD\LQJ HDUO\ PDUULDJH LV PL[HG +RZHYHU WKH HPSRZHULQJ HIIHFW RQ ZRPHQ RI HQJDJHPHQW LQ SDLG ZRUN LV ZHOO GRFXPHQWHG LQ VHYHUDO VWXGLHV .DEHHU (QJDJHPHQW LQ LQFRPH JHQHUDWLQJ DFWLYLWLHV FDQ DOVR LQFUHDVH D JLUO·V ZHOO EHLQJ LQ KHU PDULWDO KRXVHKROG 3URPRWLRQ RI YRFDWLRQDO DQG VNLOO EDVHG WUDLQLQJ IRU ZRPHQ LV OLNHO\ WR KDYH D SRVLWLYH LPSDFW IRU ERWK XQPDUULHG DQG PDUULHG ZRPHQ )RU WKH XQPDUULHG LW PD\ GHOD\ PDUULDJH IRU WKH PDUULHG LW FDQ DFW WR PLWLJDWH VRPH RI WKH QHJDWLYH HIIHFWV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH ,I D ZRPDQ ZKR ZDV PDUULHG WRR \RXQJ LV DEOH WR KDYH DQ LQGHSHQGHQW LQFRPH VRXUFH VKH ZLOO EH LQ D VWURQJHU SRVLWLRQ LQ D PDULWDO KRPH DQG LV OHVV OLNHO\ WR EH D YLFWLP RI YLROHQFH DQG DEXVH
8. Make greater efforts to reach the poorest and most excluded families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ÁH[LELOLW\ LQ RXWUHDFK PHFKDQLVPV WR UDLVH DZDUHQHVV DERXW WKH YDOXH RI HGXFDWLRQ DQG WKH QHJDWLYH FRQVHTXHQFHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH
9. Make elimination of child marriage a primary objective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
10. Promote the safety of girls a) %XLOG FRPPXQLW\ DQG VFKRRO DZDUHQHVV DURXQG JHQGHU EDVHG YLROHQFH DQG IDFLOLWDWH FRPPXQLW\ DQG VFKRRO OHG VROXWLRQV WR WKH WKUHDW RI YLROHQFH DJDLQVW JLUOV ,W LV QRW XQFRPPRQ IRU D JLUO·V HGXFDWLRQ WR EH VWRSSHG LI JRLQJ WR VFKRRO PHDQV WUDYHOOLQJ VRPH GLVWDQFH DQG SDUHQWV DUH XQFHUWDLQ DERXW FRPPXWLQJ VDIHW\ 3DUHQWV DUH PRUH OLNHO\ WR PDUU\ D GDXJKWHU LI WKH\ KDYH FRQFHUQV DERXW KHU UHDO RU SHUFHLYHG FKDVWLW\ &KLOGUHQ DQG DGXOWV QHHG WR XQGHUVWDQG WKDW ´HYH WHDVLQJµ LV DFWXDOO\ VH[XDO YLROHQFH DQG D FKDQJH LQ WHUPLQRORJ\ LV D QHFHVVDU\ DQG LPSRUWDQW ÀUVW VWHS WR UHFRJQLVH WKH JUDYLW\ RI WKH SUREOHP ,QFOXVLRQ RI VH[XDO YLROHQFH LQ GLVFXVVLRQV LQ FKLOGUHQ·V RUJDQLVDWLRQV DQG &%2V ZLOO KHOS RSHQ SXEOLF GLDORJXH DERXW WKH LVVXH %R\V DQG PHQ HVSHFLDOO\ VKRXOG EH WDUJHWHG WR EXLOG WKHLU DZDUHQHVV DQG FRPPLWPHQW WR LVVXHV RI JLUOV· DQG ZRPHQ·V VDIHW\ DQG HQFRXUDJH WKHP WR EH DFWLYH IRUFHV LQ WKH FRPPXQLW\ WR HQVXUH D VDIH HQYLURQPHQW Plan India has made a beginning with the Kishori Prerna Manch ZKHUH DGROHVFHQW JLUOV FRPH WRJHWKHU WR GLVFXVV LVVXHV RI FRPPRQ FRQFHUQ 6LPLODUO\ FKLOGUHQ·V FOXE UHVSRQGHQWV LQ %DQJODGHVK LQGLFDWHG WKDW WKH\ GLVFXVV ´HYH WHDVLQJµ DQG WKH IHDU LW FDXVHV 31
b) (QJDJH SROLFH DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ DQG ORFDO JRYHUQPHQW ERGLHV WR UDLVH WKHLU XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI WKH LPSDFW RI YLROHQFH DJDLQVW JLUOV RQ WKHLU HGXFDWLRQ DQG WKHLU IXWXUH 'LVFXVV WKH DFWLRQV WKDW VKRXOG EH WDNHQ WR FUHDWH VDIH VSDFHV IUHH IURP YLROHQFH DQG KDUDVVPHQW IRU JLUOV
11. Implement demonstration projects a) &KLOG PDUULDJH LV D SHUVLVWHQW FKDOOHQJH DQG LWV HOLPLQDWLRQ IDFHV D KRVW RI VRFLDO FXOWXUDO DQG HFRQRPLF EDUULHUV *LYHQ WKH PXOWLSOH GLPHQVLRQV RI DQ\ SUHYHQWDWLYH SURJUDPPH GHPRQVWUDWLRQ SURJUDPPHV LQ D FLUFXPVFULEHG JHRJUDSKLFDO ORFDWLRQ ZRXOG SURYLGH YDOXDEOH OHVVRQV IRU DOO VWDNHKROGHUV 7KLV ZRXOG HQDEOH D IRFXVHG LQWURGXFWLRQ RI UHODWHG LQLWLDWLYHV DQG HDVLHU PRQLWRULQJ RI FKLOG PDUULDJH FDVHV /HVVRQV OHDUQW FDQ EH VKDUHG ZLGHO\ IRU VFDOLQJ XS DQG UHSOLFDWLRQ
12. Find champions among religious leaders. 5HOLJLRXV OHDGHUV SURYLGH PRUDO DQG VSLULWXDO JXLGDQFH IRU SDUHQWV DQG FKLOGUHQ &KDPSLRQV DPRQJ WKHP FDQ EH SRZHUIXO YRLFHV IRU SXWWLQJ WKH LQWHUHVWV RI WKH FKLOG Ã&#x20AC;UVW
For policy ,Q DGGLWLRQ WR SURJUDPPDWLF LQWHUYHQWLRQV RUJDQLVDWLRQV OLNH 3ODQ FDQ DGYRFDWH IRU LQWHUYHQWLRQV WKDW UHTXLUH SROLF\ LQLWLDWLYHV $ FRPELQDWLRQ RI SURJUDPPDWLF DQG DGYRFDF\ HIIRUWV ZLOO JR D ORQJ ZD\ LQ HOLPLQDWLQJ FKLOG PDUULDJH
3URPRWH JLUOV· DFFHVV WR TXDOLW\ VHFRQGDU\ HGXFDWLRQ DQG LQFUHDVH Ã&#x20AC;QDQFLDO incentives for education D 3URYLGH LQFUHDVHG DQG VDIH DFFHVV WR VHFRQGDU\ HGXFDWLRQ 7KH LQFUHDVLQJ YDOXH DQG LQYHVWPHQW JLYHQ WR IRUPDO HGXFDWLRQ DQG LPSURYHG VFKRRO LQIUDVWUXFWXUH KDV HQVXUHG WKDW D ODUJH QXPEHU RI JLUOV QRZ Ã&#x20AC;QLVK SULPDU\ VFKRRO +RZHYHU KLJK TXDOLW\ VHFRQGDU\ VFKRROV PXVW EH DFFHVVLEOH DQG JLUO IULHQGO\ LQ RUGHU WR VLJQLÃ&#x20AC;FDQWO\ ORZHU WKH UDWHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH *LUOV QHHG HDVLHU DQG VDIHU DFFHVV WR VHFRQGDU\ VFKRROV Ã&#x20AC;QDQFLDO VXSSRUW WR VWD\ LQ VFKRRO DQG LQFHQWLYHV VXFK DV FDVK WUDQVIHUV WR HQVXUH WKH\ FRPSOHWH VHFRQGDU\ VFKRRO 6LPXOWDQHRXVO\ SDUHQWV QHHG WR EH PRWLYDWHG WR VXSSRUW VHFRQGDU\ HGXFDWLRQ IRU JLUOV E 8QLYHUVDOLVH Ã&#x20AC;QDQFLDO VXSSRUW IRU HGXFDWLRQ 7KH Ã&#x20AC;QDQFLDO EXUGHQ RI HGXFDWLRQ RIWHQ SURPSWV JLUOV IURP IDPLOLHV OLYLQJ LQ SRYHUW\ WR GURS RXW RI VFKRRO ,Q DOO WKUHH FRXQWULHV WKH JRYHUQPHQW KDV FUHDWHG VFKRODUVKLSV IRU JLUOV LQ VFKRROV DQG XQLYHUVLWLHV 6HYHUDO UHVSRQGHQWV LQGLFDWHG WKDW WKH\ ZHUH UHFHLYLQJ WKLV VXSSRUW +RZHYHU WKHUH ZHUH PDQ\ RWKHUV ZKR ZHUH GHQLHG WKLV VXSSRUW EHFDXVH RI WKH FULWHULD XVHG IRU DZDUGLQJ VFKRODUVKLSV ,W LV LPSRUWDQW WR XQLYHUVDOLVH Ã&#x20AC;QDQFLDO VXSSRUW IRU WKH HGXFDWLRQ RI JLUOV VR WKDW ODFN RI IXQGV FHDVHV WR EH WKH FDXVDO IDFWRU IRU GLVFRQWLQXDWLRQ 3HUIRUPDQFH DQG DWWHQGDQFH EDVHG LQFHQWLYHV FDQ IRUP SDUW RI WKH VXSSRUW RIIHUHG F 3URPRWH WKH XVH RI UHVLGHQWLDO VFKRROV 7KH Balika Shivirs organised by Urmul-SETU in India play DQ LPSRUWDQW UROH LQ KHOSLQJ JLUOV WUDQVLWLRQ LQWR WKH IRUPDO HGXFDWLRQ V\VWHP 7KH\ DUH GHVLJQHG WR HQFRXUDJH IRUPHU GURSRXWV WR FRPH EDFN LQWR WKH VFKRRO V\VWHP ,Q DUHDV ZKHUH WKH GDLO\ FRPPXWH WR VFKRRO LV GLIÃ&#x20AC;FXOW GXH WR WKH WHUUDLQ RU GLVWDQFH UHVLGHQWLDO VFKRROV IRU JLUOV ZLWK VXIÃ&#x20AC;FLHQW DPHQLWLHV SK\VLFDO VHFXULW\ DQG VXSHUYLVLRQ DUH D UHFRPPHQGHG RSWLRQ $Q H[DPSOH RI DQ LQLWLDWLYH WKDW IRVWHUV VXFK WUXVW DUH WKH Bal Melas RUJDQLVHG DW UHVLGHQWLDO VFKRROV LQ 5DMDVWKDQ WKDW EULQJ WRJHWKHU SDUHQWV WHDFKHUV DQG VWXGHQWV DQG DUH DQ HIIHFWLYH FKDQQHO RI PRWLYDWLQJ SDUHQWV WR FRQWLQXH WKH HGXFDWLRQ RI WKHLU GDXJKWHUV ,&5: D
14. Develop stronger coordination among different stakeholders
6HYHUDO VWDNHKROGHUV DUH ZRUNLQJ WRZDUGV WKH HOLPLQDWLRQ RI FKLOG PDUULDJH 7KHVH LQFOXGH JRYHUQPHQW ERGLHV ODZ HQIRUFHPHQW RIÃ&#x20AC;FHUV FLYLO VRFLHW\ RUJDQLVDWLRQV DQG FRPPXQLW\ OHDGHUV 7KHUH LV D QHHG IRU EHWWHU FRRUGLQDWLRQ DQG FRRSHUDWLRQ DPRQJ WKHVH SHUVRQV WR FUHDWH D VRFLDO IRUFH WKDW ZLOO FKDQJH WKH QRUPV DURXQG FKLOG PDUULDJH
15. Strengthen law enforcement D ,GHQWLI\ DQG SURVHFXWH SDUWLHV LQYROYHG LQ FKLOG PDUULDJH (DFK RI WKHVH FRXQWULHV H[KLELWV ZHDN ODZ HQIRUFHPHQW RI FKLOG PDUULDJH OHJLVODWLRQ ,W LV FULWLFDO WR LGHQWLI\ DQG SURVHFXWH SDUWLHV LQYROYHG LQ FKLOG PDUULDJH VR WKDW WKH ODZ EHFRPHV D GHWHUUHQW 7KH SHQDOWLHV LQ %DQJODGHVK IRU DEHWWLQJ FKLOG PDUULDJHV QHHG WR EH LQFUHDVHG WR EHFRPH WUXH GHWHUUHQWV )XUWKHUPRUH VXFFHVVIXO 32
Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal
LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ RI OHJLVODWLRQ UHTXLUHV WKH FRRSHUDWLRQ RI FRPPXQLW\ PHPEHUV DQG OHDGHUV ORFDO ODZ HQIRUFHPHQW RIÀFHUV PDUULDJH UHJLVWUDUV UHOLJLRXV OHDGHUV DQG VWDWH RIÀFLDOV E &RQGXFW VSHFLDO WUDLQLQJ IRU SROLFH DQG RWKHU ODZ HQIRUFHPHQW RIÀFHUV 7KHVH FDSDFLW\ EXLOGLQJ SURJUDPPHV VKRXOG EH UHJXODUO\ RUJDQLVHG WR RULHQW DQG VHQVLWLVH WKHVH RIÀFHUV UHJDUGLQJ WKH QHJDWLYH FRQVHTXHQFHV RI HDUO\ PDUULDJH DQG WKH LPSRUWDQFH RI HQIRUFLQJ FKLOG SURWHFWLRQ OHJLVODWLRQ ,W LV LPSRUWDQW WR KLJKOLJKW LQVWDQFHV RI WKH GHOD\HG PDUULDJH RI JLUOV DQG WKHLU SRVLWLYH H[SHULHQFHV³WKDW LV WKH HGXFDWLRQDO VRFLDO DQG KHDOWK RXWFRPHV RI GHOD\HG PDUULDJH F /DXQFK SXEOLF HGXFDWLRQ FDPSDLJQV WR UDLVH DZDUHQHVV DERXW WKH LPSRUWDQFH RI FKLOG PDUULDJH OHJLVODWLRQ WKH GHWDLOV RI OHJLVODWLRQ DQG WKH SXQLVKPHQWV IRU EUHDNLQJ ODZV /RFDO PHGLD FDQ SOD\ D YHU\ FULWLFDO UROH LQ UDLVLQJ DZDUHQHVV DQG PHGLD DQG FLYLO VRFLHW\ FDQ DFW DV ZDWFKGRJV UHSRUWLQJ FDVHV RI QRQ FRPSOLDQFH WR H[HUW SUHVVXUH RQ WKH JRYHUQPHQW DQG ODZ HQIRUFHPHQW DJHQFLHV WR DFW LQ DFFRUGDQFH ZLWK OHJLVODWLRQ
16. Support economic empowerment initiatives a) 6XSSRUW LQWHUYHQWLRQV WKDW HFRQRPLFDOO\ HPSRZHU JLUOV DQG ZRPHQ $GGUHVVLQJ SRYHUW\ RQH RI WKH NH\ SUHFLSLWDWLQJ FDXVHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH FDQ UHGXFH WKH SUDFWLFH 3ROLF\PDNHUV VKRXOG VXSSRUW LQWHUYHQWLRQV DW WKH QDWLRQDO DQG ORFDO OHYHOV WKDW HFRQRPLFDOO\ HPSRZHU JLUOV DQG ZRPHQ IRFXVHG LQ PDUJLQDOLVHG FRPPXQLWLHV ZLWK KLJK LQFLGHQFHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH b) 6XSSRUW GHVLJQ DQG LPSOHPHQW SURJUDPPHV LQ SDUWQHUVKLS ZLWK ORFDO DQG LQWHUQDWLRQDO 1*2V WKDW SURYLGH HFRQRPLF LQFHQWLYHV IRU IDPLOLHV WR NHHS WKHLU GDXJKWHUV LQ VFKRRO
$UHDV IRU IXWXUH UHVHDUFK Links between girls’ engagement in paid work and delaying marriage 7KH ÀQGLQJV RI WKLV VWXG\ LQGLFDWH FOHDU WUHQGV LQ FHUWDLQ DUHDV VXFK DV WKH FDXVHV RI HDUO\ PDUULDJH DQG SHRSOH·V SHUFHSWLRQV DERXW KRZ FKLOG PDUULDJH FDQ EH HOLPLQDWHG +RZHYHU WKHUH DUH RWKHU VXEMHFWV WKDW HPHUJHG DV QHHGLQJ IXUWKHU UHVHDUFK 2QH UHODWHV WR WKH OLQN EHWZHHQ HQJDJHPHQW LQ SDLG ZRUN DQG GHOD\HG PDUULDJH 7KH HYLGHQFH VHHPV WR VXJJHVW WKDW LQ VRPH FDVHV JLUOV ZLOO EH PDUULHG HDUO\ GHVSLWH being employed or self-employed. ,Q RWKHU FDVHV LW ZDV UHSRUWHG WKDW LI WKH JLUO ZDV HQJDJHG LQ SDLG ZRUN KHU IDPLO\ PLJKW QRW EH LQ D KXUU\ WR PDUU\ KHU HLWKHU EHFDXVH WKH\ UHOLHG RQ KHU LQFRPH RU EHFDXVH WKH\ ZHUH ZLOOLQJ WR ZDLW XQWLO WKH\ IRXQG D KXVEDQG ZKR ZDV ´ZRUWK\µ RI WKHLU GDXJKWHU *LYHQ WKDW PRUH JLUOV DUH DFFHVVLQJ VHFRQGDU\ HGXFDWLRQ DQG KDYH DVSLUDWLRQV WR VWXG\ DQG EH HPSOR\HG LW LV LPSRUWDQW WR XQGHUVWDQG ZKHWKHU WKLV FDQ EH DQ HIIHFWLYH VWUDWHJ\ IRU SUHYHQWLQJ FKLOG PDUULDJH 5HVHDUFK RQ WKLV LVVXH ZLOO DOVR JLYH GLUHFWLRQ WR SURJUDPPHV RI WKH JRYHUQPHQW DQG FLYLO VRFLHW\ RUJDQLVDWLRQV WKDW DUH DLPHG DW HOLPLQDWLQJ FKLOG PDUULDJH
Factors that support continuation of girls’ education after marriage 7KH ÀQGLQJV VXJJHVW WKDW VRPH PDUULHG ZRPHQ FRQWLQXH WR VWXG\ DIWHU JHWWLQJ PDUULHG DQG VRPHWLPHV HYHQ DIWHU KDYLQJ D FKLOG 7KHUH ZHUH PRUH VXFK LQVWDQFHV DPRQJ ZRPHQ LQ %DQJODGHVK WKDQ LQ WKH RWKHU WZR FRXQWULHV ,W ZRXOG EH XVHIXO WR XQGHUVWDQG WKLV SKHQRPHQRQ DQG H[DPLQH WKH UROH RI GLIIHUHQW SHUVRQV LQYROYHG VXFK DV WKH SDUHQWV LQ ODZ WKH KXVEDQG DQG WKH \RXQJ ZRPDQ KHUVHOI 2WKHU IDFWRUV WKDW PD\ LQÁXHQFH WKLV GHFLVLRQ FRXOG LQFOXGH HGXFDWLRQ OHYHOV ZLWKLQ WKH PDULWDO IDPLO\ HDVH RI DFFHVV WR HGXFDWLRQ DQG WKH DVSLUDWLRQV RI WKH \RXQJ FRXSOH
Self-initiated child marriages 7KH VWXG\ VKRZV WKDW VHOI LQLWLDWHG FKLOG PDUULDJH LV QRW DQ XQFRPPRQ SKHQRPHQRQ 3DUHQWV DQG \RXQJ JLUOV DQG ER\V FLWHG WKLV DV RQH RI WKH UHDVRQV WKDW SDUHQWV DUH UHOXFWDQW WR GHOD\ WKHLU GDXJKWHU·V PDUULDJH ,W LV LPSRUWDQW WKDW WKLV LVVXH EH UHVHDUFKHG IXUWKHU WR XQGHUVWDQG WKH IDFWRUV DQG FLUFXPVWDQFHV WKDW OHDG FKLOGUHQ WR LQLWLDWH WKHLU RZQ PDUULDJH (YLGHQFH IURP WKLV UHVHDUFK ZLOO EH XVHIXO WR GHYHORS SURJUDPPHV DQG SROLFLHV WKDW DGGUHVV WKH FDXVDO IDFWRUV IRU VXFK PDUULDJHV 33
5HIHUHQFHV $U\DO 7 5 Age at First Marriage in Nepal: Differentials and Determinants. -RXUQDO RI %LRVRFLDO 6FLHQFHV $VVRFLDWHV IRU &RPPXQLW\ DQG 3RSXODWLRQ 5HVHDUFK $&35 ,&''5 % 3ODQ %DQJODGHVK Child Marriage in Bangladesh: Findings from a National Survey. 'KDND 3ODQ %DQJODGHVK >SXEOLFDWLRQ IRUWKFRPLQJ@ (PRU\ /DZ 6FKRRO QR GDWH %DQJODGHVK Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Republic of. >ZZZ ODZ HPRU\ HGX LĂ OHJDO EDQJODGHVK KWP@ *XSWD 6 ' 0XNKHUMHH 6 6LQJK 6 3DQGH 5 DQG %DVX 6 Knot Ready: Lessons From India on Delaying Marriage for Girls. :DVKLQJWRQ ' & ,&5: >ZZZ LFUZ RUJ SXEOLFDWLRQV NQRW UHDG\@ ,&5: D Delaying Marriage for Girls in India: A Formative Research to Design Interventions for Changing Norms. :DVKLQJWRQ ' & ,&5: ,&5: E Solutions to End Child Marriage: What the Evidence Shows. :DVKLQJWRQ ' & ,&5: ,&5: Solutions to End Child Marriage: Nepal Policy Briefs. ,&5: DQG 81,&() Delaying Marriage for Girls in India: A Formative Research to Design Interventions for Changing Norms. 1HZ 'HOKL 81,&() >ZZZ LFUZ RUJ SXEOLFDWLRQV GHOD\LQJ PDUULDJH JLUOV LQGLD@ ,QWHUQDWLRQDO ,QVWLWXWH IRU 3RSXODWLRQ 6FLHQFHV DQG 0DFUR ,QWHUQDWLRQDO National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3), 2005-06: India. 0XPEDL ,QWHUQDWLRQDO ,QVWLWXWH IRU 3RSXODWLRQ 6FLHQFHV >ZZZ UFKLLSV RUJ 1)+6 LQGH[ VKWPO@ .DEHHU 1 Paid work, womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s empowerment and gender justice: critical pathways of social change.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Pathways of Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (PSRZHUPHQW :RUNLQJ 3DSHU 1R 6XVVH[ ,'6 >ZZZ GĂ&#x20AC;G JRY XN U G 2XWSXW 'HIDXOW DVS[@ 0DOKRWUD $ The Causes, Consequences and Solutions to Forced Child Marriage in the Developing World. Testimony submitted to U.S. House of Representatives Human Rights Commission. :DVKLQJWRQ ' & ,QWHUQDWLRQDO &HQWHU IRU 5HVHDUFK RQ Women. >ZZZ LFUZ RUJ Ă&#x20AC;OHV LPDJHV &DXVHV &RQVHTXHQFHV DQG 6ROXWLRQV WR )RUFHG &KLOG 0DUULDJH $QMX 0DOKRWUD SGI@ 0DWKXU 6 *UHHQH 0 0DOKRWUD $ Too young to wed: the lives, rights, and health of young married girls. :DVKLQJWRQ ' & ,&5: >ZZZ LFUZ RUJ SXEOLFDWLRQV WRR \RXQJ ZHG @ 0LQLVWU\ RI +HDOWK DQG 3RSXODWLRQ 1HSDO 1HZ (5$ DQG ,&) ,QWHUQDWLRQDO ,QF Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, 2011. .DWKPDQGX 0LQLVWU\ RI +HDOWK DQG 3RSXODWLRQ >ZZZ PHDVXUHGKV FRP SXEV SGI )5 )5 > $SULO @ SGI@ 0XUSK\ ( &DUU ' 3RZHUIXO 3DUWQHUV $GROHVFHQW *LUOV¡
(GXFDWLRQ DQG 'HOD\HG &KLOG EHDULQJ 3ROLF\ %ULHI 3RSXODWLRQ %XUHDX
3ODQ ,QGLD Learning for Life: The State of the Girl Child in India 2012 ² 7RSOLQH )LQGLQJV 1HZ 'HOKL 3ODQ ,QGLD 3ODQ 1HSDO Plan Nepal Country Strategic Plan 2010-2015. .DWKPDQGX 3ODQ 1HSDO 3ODQ 1HSDO 6DYH WKH &KLOGUHQ :RUOG 9LVLRQ ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 1HSDO DQG 6RFLHW\ IRU /RFDO ,QWHJUDWHG 'HYHORSPHQW 62/,' 1HSDO Child Marriage in Nepal: Research Report. Kathmandu. 5DM $ 0F'RXJDO / 5XVFK 0 / $ Âś&KDQJHV LQ 3UHYDOHQFH RI *LUO &KLOG 0DUULDJH LQ 6RXWK $VLD ¡ The Journal of the American Medical Association > MDPD MDPDQHWZRUN FRP DUWLFOH DVS["DUWLFOHLG TXQGHĂ&#x20AC;QHG@ 6DYH WKH &KLOGUHQ State of the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mothers 2004 :HVWSRUW &RQQHFWLFXW 6DYH WKH &KLOGUHQ 6LQJK 6 6DPDUD 5 Early Marriage Among Women in Developing Countries, ,QWHUQDWLRQDO )DPLO\ 3ODQQLQJ 3HUVSHFWLYHV 22: 148-157. 7HPLQ 0 /HYLQH 5 Start with a Girl: A Girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Count Report on Adolescent Girls. :DVKLQJWRQ '& &HQWHU IRU *OREDO Development. 7KDSD 6 Girl Child Marriage in Nepal: Its Prevalence and Correlates. &RQWULEXWLRQV WR 1HSDOHVH 6WXGLHV 8QLWHG 1DWLRQV Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 1HZ <RUN 8QLWHG 1DWLRQV 8QLWHG 1DWLRQV Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. 1HZ <RUN 8QLWHG 1DWLRQV 8QLWHG 1DWLRQV Convention on the Rights of the Child. 1HZ <RUN 8QLWHG 1DWLRQV 81,&() Early Marriage: A Harmful Traditional Practice: A Statistical Exploration. 1HZ <RUN 81,&() 81,&() &KLOG 0DUULDJH 81,&() ,QIRUPDWLRQ 6KHHW >KWWS ZZZ XQLFHI RUJ LQGLD &KLOGB0DUULDJHB)DFWB6KHHWB1RY BĂ&#x20AC;QDO SGI@ 81,&() State of the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Children 2011: Adolescence â&#x20AC;&#x201C; An Age of Opportunity. 1HZ <RUN 81,&() 81,&() State of the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Children 2012: Children in an Urban World. 1HZ <RUN 81,&()
34
Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal
Endnotes LLL
LY Y YL
YLL
Plan
YLLL
Plan
LL
7KH FRXQWU\ JRDOV REMHFWLYHV DQG LQGLFDWRUV KDYH EHHQ WDNHQ IURP WKH &RXQWU\ 6WUDWHJLF 3ODQV VKDUHG by the three COs with the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·V VDIHW\ DGROHVFHQW JLUOV DUH SDUWLFXODUO\ PRUH OLNHO\ WR GLVFRQWLQXH WKHLU VFKRROLQJ 7KH DERYH VWXG\ DOVR FLWHV IDPLO\ VXSSRUW DV D NH\ IDFWRU LQ GHWHUPLQLQJ LI D FKLOG FRQWLQXHV KHU RU KLV HGXFDWLRQ 7KH SUHYDOHQFH RI VHOI LQLWLDWHG PDUULDJHV LV GLIÃ&#x20AC;FXOW WR DVFHUWDLQ IURP WKH FXUUHQW TXDOLWDWLYH VWXG\ $ UHFHQW VWXG\ RQ FKLOG PDUULDJH LQ 1HSDO 3ODQ 1HSDO et al UHSRUWV WKDW ZKLOH SDUHQWV DUH PRYLQJ WRZDUGV ODWHU PDUULDJHV IRU WKHLU FKLOGUHQ WKHUH DUH FDVHV RI FKLOGUHQ WKHPVHOYHV LQLWLDWLQJ WKHLU own marriages before they are 18. $ UHFHQW VWXG\ E\ $&35 ,&''5 % DQG 3ODQ %DQJODGHVK IRXQG WKDW HPSOR\PHQW DW WLPH RI PDUULDJH ZDV DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK ORZHU UDWHV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH 7KH VDPH VWXG\ Ã&#x20AC;QGV DQ DVVRFLDWLRQ EHWZHHQ ODWHU PDUULDJH DQG PRUH \HDUV RI HGXFDWLRQ ,W LV SRVVLEOH WKDW WKHUH LV DQ DVVRFLDWLRQ EHWZHHQ KLJKHU HGXFDWLRQ DQG HPSOR\PHQW DQG ERWK DUH LQ WXUQ DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK ODWHU PDUULDJH 7KHUH DUH DOVR RWKHU FLYLO VRFLHW\ RUJDQLVDWLRQV DQG WKH JRYHUQPHQW WKDW DUH ZRUNLQJ RQ WKH LVVXH RI UDLVLQJ DZDUHQHVV DQG SUHYHQWLQJ WKH RFFXUUHQFH RI FKLOG PDUULDJH ,Q WKLV VHFWLRQ ZH UHSRUW Ã&#x20AC;QGLQJV ZKHUH UHVSRQGHQWV VSHFLÃ&#x20AC;FDOO\ PHQWLRQHG 3ODQ·V DFWLYLWLHV RU LQSXWV
Plan
L
35
â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to marry only after I get a job. If I get a good job then I will earn money and I can improve my life and then marry. After marriage itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not possible to get D MRE VRPH SHRSOH GRQČ W DOORZ >\RX WR JHW D MRE@ DQG VD\ GR KRXVHZRUN RQO\ 0\ IDPLO\ WROG PH WR JHW PDUULHG QRZ EXW , WROG WKHP WKDW , ZDQW WR Ë&#x2030;UVW JHW D good job and then marry. So, now they have agreed.â&#x20AC;?
Plan
Plan
Plan/Suzanne Lee
8QPDUULHG JLUO ,QGLD
3ODQ $VLD 5HJLRQDO 2IĂ&#x20AC;FH 14th )ORRU 6XNKXPYLW 5RDG $VRNH .ORQJWRH\ 1XD :DWWDQD %DQJNRN 7KDLODQG Tel: Fax: Website: ZZZ SODQ LQWHUQDWLRQDO RUJ DVLD Facebook: PlaninAsia Twitter: @PlanAsia
36
January 2013
Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal