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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

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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

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Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal

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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.

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Plan / Bernice Wong

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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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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

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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

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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.

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11

Asia Child Marriage Initiative

Plan/Suzanne Lee

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6WDWXV RI FKLOG PDUULDJH LQ %DQJODGHVK India and Nepal Bangladesh

Plan/Suzanne Lee

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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

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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.

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14

Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal

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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

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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¡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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€?

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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

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“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

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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24

Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal

Planâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Child-Centred Community Development interventions and their HIIHFWLYHQHVV Plan / Alf Berg

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26

Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal

Facilitating secondary education

Plan

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Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal

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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

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Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal

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12. Find champions among religious leaders.

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14. Develop stronger coordination among different stakeholders

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Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal

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$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

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5HIHUHQFHV $U\DO 7 5 Age at First Marriage in Nepal: Differentials and Determinants. -RXUQDO RI %LRVRFLDO 6FLHQFHV

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Child Marriage in Nepal: Research Report. Kathmandu.

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7HPLQ 0 /HYLQH 5 Start with a Girl: A Girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Count Report on Adolescent Girls. :DVKLQJWRQ '& &HQWHU IRU *OREDO Development.

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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

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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;?

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36

January 2013

Child Marriage in Bangladesh, India and Nepal