Early marriage is still prevalent in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. It exposes millions of girls to the risks associated with early sexual activity and pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, social exclusion, limited education and livelihood opportunities, and gender-based violence. Factors influencing the age at which girls marry include the extent of their education and of household poverty.
Five main types of programme address child marriage: 1) educating families and communities; 2) educating girls; 3) law and policy initiatives; 4) providing economic opportunities; and 5) protecting rights (such as creating safe social spaces, keeping official birth and marriage records).
Lessons include the advantages of multi-sectoral approaches, of involving the community in all stages of the project, of awareness-raising on age gaps between partners, and of supporting girls who have had marriages ‘stopped’. The benefits of tailoring programmes for young girls approaching the ‘tipping-point’ age (usually 13 or 14) have also been noted.
