Author: Panna Mallick
Abstract: Child marriage remains a pressing global issue, depriving millions of children, especially girls, of their fundamental rights to education, health, and personal development. This article explores the dual approach of policy frameworks and community-based interventions as critical strategies to combat child marriage. It highlights the role of legislative measures, grassroots activism, education, and economic empowerment in addressing the root causes and mitigating the consequences of early marriage. The study emphasizes the importance of cultural sensitivity and inclusive stakeholder engagement in designing effective interventions, offering a roadmap for sustainable change. Child marriage has other negative effects on girls’ mental health as well. There is a strong correlation between many types of gender-based violence, such as forced marriage and intimate partner abuse, and the increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts among girls who are engaged or married at a young age. Marriage at a young age not only prevents a kid from finishing high school, but it also forces them into low-paying, precarious occupations since they can’t work as much after giving birth and taking care of the child. Early marriage for girls reduces their lifetime earnings by more than nine percent, which is a big effect. Reducing the prevalence of child marriage has been associated with increased productivity and income.
Keywords: Child Marriage
Page No: 29-33