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KABUL – The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan has led to a surge in child marriage, as families struggle to cope with the economic and social upheaval. According to a recent report by the Save the Children, number of child marriages in Afghanistan has increased exponentially.
Among 144 countries assessed in terms of their treatment of girls, Afghanistan is ranked 121st on the list, underscoring the pressing need for action to combat child marriage. Pakistan follows closely behind at 88th place. Furthermore, Iran (70th), Azerbaijan (69th), Georgia (62nd), Kyrgyzstan (59th), and Tajikistan (57th) also displayed concerning standings in the rankings. In contrast, Serbia (20th), Belarus (24th), Macedonia (28th), and Kazakhstan (30th) were recognized for their comparatively better treatment of girls.
This is as the Taliban’s restrictions on girls’ education and employment have made it more difficult for families to support their daughters, and that many families are now resorting to marrying their daughters off at a young age in order to reduce their financial burden.
Child marriage is having a devastating impact on girls’ health, education, and well-being. Girls who are married as children are more likely to drop out of school, experience early pregnancy, and suffer from domestic violence and other forms of abuse. They are also more likely to live in poverty and experience food insecurity.
The “Save the Children” report reveals alarming trends, indicating that a girl under the age of 15 is forced into marriage every seven seconds. Shockingly, some girls as young as 10 years old are forced into this predicament. Drawing on data from the UN children’s agency UNICEF, the report foresees a distressing projection – by the year 2050, there may be as many as 1.2 billion underage girls coerced into child marriages.
Titled “Every Last Girl,” the report emphasizes the harsh consequences of early marriages for girls, as it often deprives them of educational opportunities and employment prospects, perpetuating a cycle of poverty. Save the Children Germany’s CEO, Susanna Krueger, conveyed, “Early marriage starts a cycle of disadvantage that denies girls the most basic rights to learn, develop, and be children.”
