The U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child considers marriage before the age of 18 as a fundamental human rights violation. Even so, rights groups estimate there are more than 50 million child brides worldwide, a number that is expected to grow to 100 million over the next decade.
Although they vary from country to country, long-standing cultural reasons for early marriage range from cementing strategic alliances between families and protecting the virginity of girls to paying off debts and selling girls into marriage as a means of economic survival.
In a multimedia special report released on Aug. 4, TrustLaw delves deep into the consequences of child marriage. Be part of the discussion by sharing your views below.
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