Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions on on on Child Marriages Child Marriages Child Marriages 1. What is child marriage? 1. What is child marriage? 1. What is child marriage? In this marriage, “child” means a person who if a In this marriage, “child” means a person who if a In this marriage, “child” means a person who if a male has not completed 21- years of age and if a male has not completed 21- years of age and if a male has not completed 21- years of age and if a female has not completed 18-years of age. So, Child female has not completed 18-years of age. So, Child female has not completed 18-years of age. So, Child marriage means a marriage to which either of the marriage means a marriage to which either of the marriage means a marriage to which either of the contracting persons is a child. (Government working contracting persons is a child. (Government working contracting persons is a child. (Government working to raise legal age of marriage for women to 21) to raise legal age of marriage for women to 21) to raise legal age of marriage for women to 21) Example – Example – Example – (i) Marrying a 20-years boy with 19-years girl is a (i) Marrying a 20-years boy with 19-years girl is a (i) Marrying a 20-years boy with 19-years girl is a child marriage (In this case Boy is a child) child marriage (In this case Boy is a child) child marriage (In this case Boy is a child) [However, a male aged between 18 and 21 marrying a [However, a male aged between 18 and 21 marrying a [However, a male aged between 18 and 21 marrying a female above 18 years will not be punishable under the female above 18 years will not be punishable under the female above 18 years will not be punishable under the Act for contracting a child marriage, the Supreme Act for contracting a child marriage, the Supreme Act for contracting a child marriage, the Supreme Court has ruled] Court has ruled] Court has ruled] (ii) Marrying a 22-years boy with 17-years girl is a (ii) Marrying a 22-years boy with 17-years girl is a (ii) Marrying a 22-years boy with 17-years girl is a child marriage (In this case Girl is a child) child marriage (In this case Girl is a child) child marriage (In this case Girl is a child) (iii Marrying a 17-years boy with 16-years girl is a (iii Marrying a 17-years boy with 16-years girl is a (iii Marrying a 17-years boy with 16-years girl is a child marriage (In this case both Boy and Girl are child marriage (In this case both Boy and Girl are child marriage (In this case both Boy and Girl are child) child) child) Increasing risk for sexually transmitted diseases Increasing risk for sexually transmitted diseases Increasing risk for sexually transmitted diseases The immature children who are newly married are The immature children who are newly married are The immature children who are newly married are often pushed into a family system often pushed into a family system often pushed into a family system There is an increase in the rate of abortions, There is an increase in the rate of abortions, There is an increase in the rate of abortions, premature births which may result in infant premature births which may result in infant premature births which may result in infant mortality and the death of mothers mortality and the death of mothers mortality and the death of mothers Handicapped child births or dead child births Handicapped child births or dead child births Handicapped child births or dead child births Mental as well as physical health problems. Mental as well as physical health problems. Mental as well as physical health problems. Child marriage increases girls’ risk of experiencing Child marriage increases girls’ risk of experiencing Child marriage increases girls’ risk of experiencing violence violence violence Child marriage destroys girls’ education and leads to Child marriage destroys girls’ education and leads to Child marriage destroys girls’ education and leads to poverty poverty poverty Hurdle for physical growth Hurdle for physical growth Hurdle for physical growth The children become child labourers for family The children become child labourers for family The children become child labourers for family maintenance maintenance maintenance 2. Why does child marriage happen? 2. Why does child marriage happen? 2. Why does child marriage happen? Gender inequality, social norms, perceived low status Gender inequality, social norms, perceived low status Gender inequality, social norms, perceived low status of girls, poverty, lack of education, safety concerns of girls, poverty, lack of education, safety concerns of girls, poverty, lack of education, safety concerns about girl children and control over sexuality are about girl children and control over sexuality are about girl children and control over sexuality are reasons for child marriages. reasons for child marriages. reasons for child marriages. 3.What are all the major damages due to 3.What are all the major damages due to 3.What are all the major damages due to child marriage? child marriage? child marriage? 4.What reports were saying about Child 4.What reports were saying about Child 4.What reports were saying about Child Marriages in India? Marriages in India? Marriages in India? Source: Population Data from United Nations UNICEF Report: UNICEF Report: UNICEF Report: One in three One in three One in three of the world’s child brides live in India of the world’s child brides live in India of the world’s child brides live in India Over half of Indian child brides live Over half of Indian child brides live Over half of Indian child brides live in five states: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, in five states: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, in five states: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and West Bengal, Maharashtra, and West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh But Only Few Cases were Registring: But Only Few Cases were Registring: But Only Few Cases were Registring: 5.What are the key facts about Child 5.What are the key facts about Child 5.What are the key facts about Child Marriages in India? Marriages in India? Marriages in India? One in three of the world’s child brides live in One in three of the world’s child brides live in India India Of the country’s 223 million child brides, Of the country’s 223 million child brides, 102 million were married before turning 15. 102 million were married before turning 15. Over half of Indian child brides live in five Over half of Indian child brides live in five states: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, states: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. Uttar Uttar Pradesh is home to the largest population of Pradesh is home to the largest population of child brides, with 36 million. child brides, with 36 million. Approximately one in four young women in Approximately one in four young women in India were married or in union before their India were married or in union before their 18th birthday. 18th birthday. The majority of young women who married in The majority of young women who married in childhood gave birth as adolescents. childhood gave birth as adolescents. Child Child brides go on to have larger families compared brides go on to have larger families compared to women who marry later. to women who marry later. The prevalence of child marriage varies The prevalence of child marriage varies The prevalence of child marriage varies across states and union territories in India. across states and union territories in India. across states and union territories in India. Over 40 per cent of young women were Over 40 per cent of young women were Over 40 per cent of young women were married before turning 18 in Bihar and married before turning 18 in Bihar and married before turning 18 in Bihar and West Bengal, compared to less than 5 per West Bengal, compared to less than 5 per West Bengal, compared to less than 5 per cent in Lakshadweep. cent in Lakshadweep. cent in Lakshadweep. A girl’s risk of child marriage depends on A girl’s risk of child marriage depends on A girl’s risk of child marriage depends on certain background characteristics. certain background characteristics. certain background characteristics. Girls Girls Girls who live in rural areas or come from who live in rural areas or come from who live in rural areas or come from poorer households are at greater risk, and poorer households are at greater risk, and poorer households are at greater risk, and a higher proportion of child brides are a higher proportion of child brides are a higher proportion of child brides are found among those with little or no found among those with little or no found among those with little or no education. education. education. Child marriage is less common among Child marriage is less common among Child marriage is less common among boys than girls, and the practice among boys than girls, and the practice among boys than girls, and the practice among boys could be eliminated by 2030 if boys could be eliminated by 2030 if boys could be eliminated by 2030 if progress is accelerated. progress is accelerated. progress is accelerated. 6. Does Child marriages are legal in India? 6. Does Child marriages are legal in India? 6. Does Child marriages are legal in India? No, it’s an illegal and Child Marriages in India No, it’s an illegal and Child Marriages in India No, it’s an illegal and Child Marriages in India are prohibited under the THE PROHIBITION are prohibited under the THE PROHIBITION are prohibited under the THE PROHIBITION OF CHILD MARRIAGE ACT, 2006 and it is a OF CHILD MARRIAGE ACT, 2006 and it is a OF CHILD MARRIAGE ACT, 2006 and it is a punishable offence. Marriage of a minor child punishable offence. Marriage of a minor child punishable offence. Marriage of a minor child will be not valid in certain circumstances. will be not valid in certain circumstances. will be not valid in certain circumstances. 7.What are the punishments for Child 7.What are the punishments for Child 7.What are the punishments for Child marriages? marriages? marriages? Whoever performs (including groom), Whoever performs (including groom), Whoever performs (including groom), conducts, directs or abets any child marriage conducts, directs or abets any child marriage conducts, directs or abets any child marriage shall be punishable with rigorous shall be punishable with rigorous shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment which may extend to two years imprisonment which may extend to two years imprisonment which may extend to two years and shall be liable to fine which may extend and shall be liable to fine which may extend and shall be liable to fine which may extend to one lakh rupees or with both. to one lakh rupees or with both. to one lakh rupees or with both. Call 1098 (1098 is a toll-free number and it Call 1098 (1098 is a toll-free number and it Call 1098 (1098 is a toll-free number and it operates across India. It is operated by operates across India. It is operated by operates across India. It is operated by Childline India Foundation which works for Childline India Foundation which works for Childline India Foundation which works for child rights and child protection) child rights and child protection) child rights and child protection) Toll free Complaint Cell number 1800-102- Toll free Complaint Cell number 1800-102- Toll free Complaint Cell number 1800-102- 7222 7222 7222 Call 100 (you can dial police number 100) Call 100 (you can dial police number 100) Call 100 (you can dial police number 100) You can contact Child Marriage Prohibition You can contact Child Marriage Prohibition You can contact Child Marriage Prohibition Officer Officer Officer File a Complaint with the Court (You can even File a Complaint with the Court (You can even File a Complaint with the Court (You can even directly file a complaint with the Judicial directly file a complaint with the Judicial directly file a complaint with the Judicial Magistrate (First Class) or the Metropolitan Magistrate (First Class) or the Metropolitan Magistrate (First Class) or the Metropolitan Magistrate. The Court will order the Police or Magistrate. The Court will order the Police or Magistrate. The Court will order the Police or the Child Marriage Prohibition Officer, as the Child Marriage Prohibition Officer, as the Child Marriage Prohibition Officer, as required to take action) required to take action) required to take action) 8.Whom to complaint / report about child 8.Whom to complaint / report about child 8.Whom to complaint / report about child marriage? marriage? marriage?