ESCWA Publication: E/ESCWA/ECW/2015/2
Publication Type: Reports & studies
Cluster: Gender Justice, Population and Inclusive Development
Focus Area: Gender equality
Initiatives: Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls
SDGs: Goal 5: Gender Equality, Goal 4: Quality Education
Keywords: Arab countries, Child abuse, Children, Conflict, Early marriage, Humanitarian assistance, Humanitarian intervention, Middle east, Violence
Child Marriage in Humanitarian Settings in the Arab Region
January 2015
While sexual violence, food insecurity and lack of access to adequate health services have been identified as the most pressing areas of concern among female displaced populations in the Arab region, child marriage has been highlighted as an increasingly alarming problem. International instruments and humanitarian laws address child marriage as a form of gender-based violence and a human rights violation.
This study tackles the issue of female child marriage in the Arab region, particularly in conflict and humanitarian settings. It explores the causes of this problem, with a distinction between such structural determinants as family and community relations and gender roles that have long been present in many Arab countries, and such contextual determinants as instability, displacement and extreme poverty. It also investigates the economic and health effects of child marriage, for young brides, their children and their communities, especially in post-conflict contexts. The study also provides an overview of national obligations with regard to preventing child marriage, as stipulated by international instruments and humanitarian laws. It concludes with policy recommendations to address the multifaceted dimensions of child marriage and its implications for the rights of the girl-child.
Related content
Gender equality
While sexual violence, food insecurity and lack of access to adequate health services have been identified as the most pressing areas of concern among female displaced populations in the Arab region, child marriage has been highlighted as an increasingly alarming problem. International instruments and humanitarian laws address child marriage as a form of gender-based violence and a human rights violation.
This study tackles the issue of female child marriage in the Arab region, particularly in conflict and humanitarian settings. It explores the causes of this problem, with a distinction between such structural determinants as family and community relations and gender roles that have long been present in many Arab countries, and such contextual determinants as instability, displacement and extreme poverty. It also investigates the economic and health effects of child marriage, for young brides, their children and their communities, especially in post-conflict contexts. The study also provides an overview of national obligations with regard to preventing child marriage, as stipulated by international instruments and humanitarian laws. It concludes with policy recommendations to address the multifaceted dimensions of child marriage and its implications for the rights of the girl-child.
