1. Ending Child Marriage in the Arab Region: Why Should it Be a Priority
International Conference on Youth and Adolescents Health
Oyoun Mousa, Egypt, November 3-5, 2013
PRESENTATION BY FARZANEH ROUDI OF THE POPULATION REFERENCE BUREAU

2. Child Marriage Violates Girls’ Human Rights
Child marriage passes the cycle of poverty, poor health, and low education from one generation to the next.
Girls from poor families are more likely than girls from wealthier families to become child brides.
and Takes a Toll on Families and Societies

3. International Agreements Condemn Child Marriage
1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights
1979 Convention of Eradication of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
1989 Convention of the Rights of the Child (CDC)
Programme of Action of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD)

4. International Day of the Girl Child. was inaugurated on Oct. 11, 2012,
International Day of the Girl Child was inaugurated on Oct. 11, 2012, with the theme of Ending Child Marriage

5. Women Ages 20-24 who Married Before Age 18 (Percent)
Source: PRB
Percent

6. Percent of Population Living in Poverty
2007 – 2009
Source: World Bank

7. Ending Child Marriage. helps countries achieve their
Ending Child Marriage helps countries achieve their Millennium Development Goals

8. MDG 1 Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger
Child marriage is both a cause and a consequence of poverty
It passes the cycle of poverty from one generation to the next
Girls from poor families are more likely to become child brides
Child marriage passes the cycle of poverty, poor health, and low education from one generation to the next.
Girls from poor families are more likely than girls from wealthier families to become child brides.

9. Women Ages 20-24 who Wed Before Age 18, by Wealth Quintile, Egypt (Percent)
Source: Egypt 2008 DHS

10. MDG 2 Achieve Universal Primary Education
Education is a powerful way to prevent child marriage
Primary education  secondary education+
Secondary education is key to end child marriage

11. Women Ages 20-24 who Married Before Age 18, by Education (Percent)
Source: PAPFAM

12. MDG 3 Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
Ending child marriage has to be an integral part of efforts to promote gender equality
Child brides have little opportunity to develop awareness of their rights
They are in no position to demand their rights
Ending child marriage must be an integral part of efforts to promote gender equality……and visa versa. Promoting gender equality must be an integral part of efforts to end child marriage……

13. Married Women Ages Whose Husbands Are at Least 10 Years Older, by Women’s Age at Marriage (Percent)
Child brides have little opportunity to develop awareness of their rights, and are in no position to demand them. Too often, child brides are much younger than their husbands (see Figure 4), which adds to the uneven power dynamic between the brides and their husbands—and their husbands’ families.
Source: PAPFAM

14. Child Marriage Has Serious Health Consequences
MDG 4: Reduce child mortality
MDG 5: Improve maternal health
MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases

15. Ending Child Marriage Helps Sustainable Development
MDG 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
Slower population growth
MDG 8: Develop a global partnership for development
Conduct research
Set policies
Implement programs

16. Broad Approaches Are Needed
Underlying forces are complex and interrelated
Collective efforts are needed from all fronts:
Social
Economic
Judicial
Religious
Political

17. Issue Birth Certificate to Every Girl Born
Status of Vital Registration Systems
Weak or dysfunctional
Functional, but inadequate
Satisfactory
Djibouti
Lebanon
Morocco
Somalia
Sudan
South Sudan
Yemen
Egypt
Iraq
Libya
Palestine
Saudi Arabia
Syria
Bahrain
Jordan
Kuwait
Qatar
UAE
Source: WHO/HMN, 2013

18. Uphold Girls’ Rights to Education and Protection
Keeping girls in schools and out of the marriage market
Reforming family laws and closing loopholes
Defining 18 as the legal minimum age of marriage
Enforcing the law
Make sure there are schools for girls to go to…..

19. Efforts Are Also Needed To
Raise public awareness
Children’s rights to education and protection against exploitation
Hazards of early marriage and childbearing
Involve community leaders
Special focus on religious leaders
Use the media to convey messages

20. Gain Political Commitment
Programs to empower girls and offer incentives to families
Coordination among different sectors
Regional and international cooperation
Research and dissemination

21. Iraqi Men’s Perception of Their Rights
16% = 1 in 6
Source: UN Iraq, Women in Iraq Factsheet, March 2013.

22. Reaching Out to Young Married Women
Ensure that they can continue education
Improve access to reproductive health care
Empower with training programs to improve life skills
Provide services to victims of domestic violence

23. Women Ages 20-24 Who Married Before Age 15 (Percent)