According to Article 1 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, every individual under the age of 18 is a child. This convention also prohibits any action, whether by the child’s will or another’s, that interferes with their natural development. Marriage is one such action.
The formation of a family unit, which requires physical, psychological, and social prerequisites, brings with it numerous responsibilities for the couple. Marriage is a rational and emotional bond between two individuals, intended to create an independent family where they can find peace, harmony, empathy, and a shared direction in life. It is also a catalyst for growth, flourishing, and the fulfillment of fundamental human needs.
A healthy marriage is an emotional relationship in which an individual feels valued, trusted, secure, loved, and respected. In such a relationship, boundaries are clear, mutual respect exists, and individual choices are honored. Power is distributed fairly, and roles are well-defined. A healthy sexual relationship is maintained, and the well-being and peace of the individuals prevent the onset of psychological disorders.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), child marriage is defined as any formal marriage or informal union before the age of 18. This phenomenon is a reality for both girls and boys.
The term “child marriage” refers to a union where one or both partners are under the age of 18. While this definition seems straightforward, the reality is more complex. Both “child” and “marriage” are defined differently across various societies. The international community considers individuals under 18 to be children. However, the legal definition of a child in some countries, including our own, designates that individuals reach maturity before the age of 18.
Child marriage deprives girls of an education and condemns them to a life with the prospect of poverty. The risks of violence, sexual and physical abuse, exploitation, various diseases, and ultimately, premature death are among the devastating consequences of this practice.
Several factors contribute to the creation and spread of child marriage, the most significant of which is poverty. The perception that marriage “protects girls,” along with social norms, traditional laws, legal loopholes, and inadequate civil registration systems, are also major contributing factors. As mentioned, poverty is the primary driver. Furthermore, some parents, particularly in societies facing a humanitarian crisis like ours, see early marriage as a way to protect their daughters from sexual violence. Consequently, child marriage rates increase during times of economic instability and when societal violence reaches critical levels. However, it is crucial to recognize that child marriage is, in itself, a phenomenon accompanied by high levels of sexual, physical, and emotional violence.
It should be noted that most child marriages are not based on rational decision-making. For this reason, the practice is predominantly found among the poor and middle classes.
Early pregnancy is one of the most dangerous consequences of child marriage, carrying a very high risk of mortality for both the infant and the mother. Girls forced into early marriage often experience violence, sexual abuse, and coerced sexual relations. As a result, they are more vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections. Deprivation of schooling, loss of opportunities and better life chances, the marginalization of a segment of the workforce, and the entrapment of these children and their own children in a cycle of poverty are some of the other outcomes.
As we know, in our country, the responsibility for raising children falls mostly on mothers. How can a child mother, who has yet to learn many principles of life herself, raise a child? This is a profound harm that threatens the entire society. We must also accept that this phenomenon is dangerous for men as well.
Despite significant opposition from experts, the Iranian Parliament has not yet made a decision regarding child marriage or setting a minimum age for marriage.
On March 9, 2021, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, in a report to the UN Human Rights Council, called for immediate and necessary reforms regarding the Islamic Republic’s treatment of women and girls. He cited an official government report indicating that more than 16,000 girls between the ages of 10 and 14 were married in the first half of that year alone. He stated: “Domestic violence, thousands of marriages of girls between 10 and 14 each year, and continued deep-rooted discrimination in law and practice show that women and girls in Iran are still treated as second-class citizens.”
Laws must be enacted and enforced to prevent child marriage. One such law is raising the minimum legal age of marriage. Of course, laws alone cannot end the practice. Improving families’ living conditions and eradicating extreme poverty, which is the primary motive for many child marriages, are of paramount importance. Providing vocational training to girls, especially in rural areas, to help them contribute to the family economy can encourage families to forego the short-term financial gain of marrying off their daughters.
The consequences, dangers, and harms of this phenomenon are greater for men than for women. If society as a whole, and men in particular, do not take action now, tomorrow may be too late.
Kowsar Tanomashi
