Children's rights and child marriage: promises the world has made
The countries of the world have agreed that children have rights of their own. These rights are set out in international agreements, above all the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Child marriage breaks many of these promises at once.
The right to protection
Every child has the right to be protected from harm, abuse and exploitation. A child married to an adult is exposed to exactly these dangers.
The right to education
Every child has the right to go to school. Marriage often ends a girl's education and closes the door to work and independence.
The right to health
Every child has the right to the best possible health. Early pregnancy and childbirth put a girl's life and health at serious risk.
The right to be heard
Every child has the right to express her views on matters that affect her. A child cannot freely consent to marriage, and her voice is often not heard at all.
The right to play and rest
Childhood is a time for play, friendship and rest. A child bride is expected to carry an adult's burden instead.
Turning promises into reality
International agreements matter only when they are applied at home. This needs national laws with a clear minimum age of marriage, the registration of every marriage and birth, and services that protect girls at risk.
It also needs families and communities who see that these rights are not foreign ideas. They reflect a simple truth shared across cultures: children need care, and time to grow.
Every girl is born with these rights. Protecting them is everyone's duty.