Kuwait has increased the minimum marriage age to 18 to tackle child marriage, especially in conflict areas. In 2024, 1,145 underage marriages were reported in Kuwait, mainly involving girls. Oxfam stresses the detrimental impact of child marriage on girls’ rights, education, and health, while ongoing conflicts in the MENA region exacerbate the problem, affecting millions. International organizations advocate for policy changes and community engagement to combat this issue effectively.
In an attempt to safeguard child rights, Kuwait has recently raised the minimum marriage age to 18, aiming to combat child marriage prevalent in the Arab world, especially in conflict zones. Despite this progress, child marriage remains widespread, with 1,145 instances recorded in 2024, primarily involving girls. This effort is part of Kuwait’s commitment to international conventions aimed at protecting children’s rights and eliminating discrimination against women.
Amendments to Kuwait’s marriage laws align with various international treaties recognizing child marriage as a harmful practice exacerbating gender inequality, mainly affecting young girls. Hadeel Qazzaz from Oxfam emphasizes that child marriage infringes on girls’ education and decision-making rights, significantly impacting their futures and exacerbating vulnerability to gender-based violence.
Research indicates that married girls aged 15 to 19 experience violence from their husbands and face increased risks during pregnancy and childbirth. Complications during these periods are leading causes of death in adolescent girls in developing nations; the restrictions on education further limit their life choices, perpetuating cycles of poverty.
Economic studies suggest eliminating child marriage could enhance GDP growth in developing countries. Despite this potential, the problem persists in the Middle East and North Africa, where ongoing conflicts exacerbate the situation. UNICEF reports that regarding child brides, one in five girls in the MENA region marries before 18.
Factors contributing to child marriage include poverty, lack of legal protections, and entrenched gender norms. In countries like Iraq, new laws may allow for marriages of girls as young as nine, increasing the risks for those affected. Citing varying marriage rates across Iraq, UNICEF shows significant regional disparities in child marriage prevalence.
Conflict and displacement are worsening the child marriage crisis in the MENA region. Qazzaz notes that increased marriages in the Gaza Strip are due to insecurity and financial considerations caused by the ongoing conflict. Yemen, in particular, lacks a legal minimum marriage age, which enables early marriages amidst a civil war.
In Sudan and Syria, the ongoing hostilities and displacement further exacerbate child marriage rates, with significant percentages of girls married before age 18. The compounding effects of economic difficulty, societal pressures, and cultural norms heavily influence these statistics.
Despite these challenges, organizations like Oxfam are striving to impact policy positively and safeguard the rights of girls. Their initiatives, particularly in Yemen, focus on raising awareness of child marriage and enabling community advocacy for legal age reforms. Qazzaz emphasizes the importance of empowering young people in these efforts, fostering a broader understanding of the issues around child marriage and promoting reproductive rights.
Kuwait’s recent amendment raising the marriage age to 18 marks a significant step in protecting children’s rights amidst a widespread child marriage crisis in the Arab world. Contributing factors such as conflict, poverty, and entrenched societal norms continue to present challenges, particularly in war-torn regions. The alarming statistics highlight an urgent need for enhanced legal protections and societal change. Organizations like Oxfam are working diligently to combat child marriage by advocating for policies that secure the rights of girls, emphasizing the importance of youth engagement in these matters.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
