Almost 12 million girls are locked away from a better life……………

By Daily News Reporter

Child marriage is standing in the way of progress towards many of our 2030 Global Goals. For as long as child marriage continues to exist, so will poverty and instability, violence against women and girls, high global maternal mortality rates, and an ever widening educational gap between the poorest and wealthiest nations.

Barriers affecting Girl child in education:

The interconnectedness of child marriage with several of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) underscores the urgency of addressing this issue. Here's how child marriage serves as a barrier to achieving progress across multiple SDGs:

 

SDG 1: No Poverty and SDG 2: Zero Hunger: Child marriage perpetuates poverty by depriving girls of education and economic opportunities. When girls are married off as children, they often forego education, limiting their ability to secure employment and contribute to lifting their families out of poverty. This perpetuates the cycle of poverty and hampers efforts to achieve food security.

 

SDG 3: Good Health: Child marriage contributes to high rates of maternal mortality and teenage pregnancies. Girls who marry young are at greater risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth due to their bodies not being fully developed. This endangers the lives of both the mother and the child, undermining efforts to improve maternal health outcomes.

 

SDG 5: Gender Equality: Child marriage reinforces gender inequality by denying girls their rights to education, employment, and decision-making power. It exposes them to higher risks of domestic violence and limits their opportunities for personal and professional development, perpetuating harmful gender norms and practices.

 

SDG 13: Climate Action: Child marriage hinders efforts to address climate change by depriving girls of education and empowerment. Educated women are better equipped to implement sustainable practices in their communities, such as sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation. By denying girls access to education and agency, child marriage undermines initiatives aimed at mitigating climate change.

 

By addressing child marriage, countries can make significant strides towards achieving multiple SDGs simultaneously. Empowering girls through education, providing access to reproductive health services, and challenging harmful gender norms are essential steps in breaking the cycle of poverty and advancing sustainable development worldwide.

(pictures are not for Daily News Agency)