Child brides and forced marriages, involving the population aged <18 years, occur across continents, cultures, and religions. Globally, 1 in 5 girls marry before the age of 18, and one-third are under 15 years old. Every day worldwide, 39 000 girls marry before reaching the age of majority, and 12 million girls marry before that age each year. Child brides and forced child marriages have devastating effects on emotional and social development. In most cases, girls are deprived of their rights, including education, family life, play, and recreation and are forced to assume adult responsibilities, including forced pregnancy. Childhood denied, along with the severe physical or emotional damage caused by child brides and forced marriages, can have long-term consequences for health, life opportunities, and well-being, endangering their lives, the lives of their children, and the future of their community. Child and forced marriages can be considered a serious form of child abuse and neglect, exposing girls to various forms of physical violence with severe long-term effects. The Working Group on Social Pediatrics of the European Association of Pediatrics, the Union of European National Pediatric Societies and Associations, and the Board of Directors of the Turkish Pediatric Association are working jointly to develop recommendations to counteract child brides and forced marriages and their physical, psychological, and social impacts. The purpose of this commentary is to raise awareness among pediatricians and health professionals about this issue and its possible lifelong risks. The authors point out that pediatricians can be influential advocates and play an important role in programs established to monitor and prevent the negative personal and social impacts caused by these practices.
Child Brides and Forced Marriages: An Aspect of Child Abuse and Neglect
Pettoello-Mantovani, Massimo
;Indrio, FlaviaInvestigation
;Giardino, IdaInvestigation
;
2022-01-01
Abstract
Child brides and forced marriages, involving the population aged <18 years, occur across continents, cultures, and religions. Globally, 1 in 5 girls marry before the age of 18, and one-third are under 15 years old. Every day worldwide, 39 000 girls marry before reaching the age of majority, and 12 million girls marry before that age each year. Child brides and forced child marriages have devastating effects on emotional and social development. In most cases, girls are deprived of their rights, including education, family life, play, and recreation and are forced to assume adult responsibilities, including forced pregnancy. Childhood denied, along with the severe physical or emotional damage caused by child brides and forced marriages, can have long-term consequences for health, life opportunities, and well-being, endangering their lives, the lives of their children, and the future of their community. Child and forced marriages can be considered a serious form of child abuse and neglect, exposing girls to various forms of physical violence with severe long-term effects. The Working Group on Social Pediatrics of the European Association of Pediatrics, the Union of European National Pediatric Societies and Associations, and the Board of Directors of the Turkish Pediatric Association are working jointly to develop recommendations to counteract child brides and forced marriages and their physical, psychological, and social impacts. The purpose of this commentary is to raise awareness among pediatricians and health professionals about this issue and its possible lifelong risks. The authors point out that pediatricians can be influential advocates and play an important role in programs established to monitor and prevent the negative personal and social impacts caused by these practices.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.