Child Marriage

In Assam, the police is cracking down on the cases of child marriage cases, registered in the State.  With over 4,074 cases of child marriages, the Assam Police continued their arrests for a third day in a row and arrested nearly 2,500 people for marrying minor girls or facilitating such marriages. Reacting to this, many citizens staged a protest against the State Police and demanded the release of those arrested.

United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA) Uganda representative Mary Otieno said that teen pregnancies and child marriages are costing Uganda its social and economic progress. "It impacts negatively their educational aspirations, livelihood, health and future social-economic productivity," she said. She further stated that childbearing at a young age can disrupt their development into adulthood. Reportedly, by the age of 21, many people in… read-more

A flying squad of the women and child development department on Indore, intervened and rescued two minor girls from getting married, on April 21. After which, the girls alleged that their father "tortured" them and forced them to get married. According to the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, accused under this statute can be sentenced to undergo rigourous Imprisonment of up to two years and a Rs 1 lakh fine.

Citing new child protection law, the Centre has omitted the details of domestic violence faced by child brides from recent National Health Survey. While the development came after the previous report found nearly one in six girls married girls aged between 15-19 faced abuse, experts say this will prevent them to get help. Notably, India accounts to over 20% of world’s adolescents and highest child marriages in South Asia.

Six people were arrested in Hyderabad on December 31 for committing themselves in an 'illegal' marriage between a 16-year-old girl and a 57-year-old man. Moreover, the accused groom has been charged for allegedly raping the minor at a lodge. Reportedly, the girl's aunt decided to marry the teenager to the accused instead of repaying loans. The police have informed that the victim's family submitted false documents to the qazi to perform the… read-more