Child Marriage in India – Causes, Impacts, Laws

Child marriage is a global problem. Around 15 million girls become victims of child marriage every year across the world. The UN says that more than 21% of young women and 4% young men in the world were married before they turn 18. At present, 650 million girls and women alive were married before their 18th birthday. Africa has the most recorded marriages – more than 70% of its girl population. India contributes about 40% of child marriages across the globe. It is a global issue that is plaguing Nepal, Middle East, Bangladesh and Pakistan. It is an issue even in developed countries like USA and UK. Massive efforts have been undertaken by countries and the UN to prevent child marriages. In the last decade, the proportion of women who were married as children decreased by 15%. Around 25 million child marriages were prevented in the last decade. South Asia showed the largest decline in th