ASIA CHILD MARRIAGE INITIATIVE: GETTING THE EVIDENCE
Plan International and Coram International undertook a research study in three countries in Asia (Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia). The purpose of the ACMI Research was to gather in-depth and detailed evidence on the root causes of child marriage practices. The research focused on exploring social attitudes, values and norms concerning child marriage, and identifying the structural and environmental factors which influence them. In addition, the research informed the development of an index for measuring environmental factors associated with the acceptability of child marriage which will be used by Plan International to track progress and improve the effectiveness of our child marriage programming globally.
*Link for Summary Report – 34 Pages – 2015
*Link for Full Report – 109 Pages – 2015
The research found rates of child marriage of girls to be high across all three countries, particularly in Bangladesh; rates of marriage of boys were found to be highest in Pakistan.
Overall, the research revealed that females marry significantly younger than males in all three countries and that this pattern is rooted in rigid gender norms, including a highly gendered division of labour according to which men are the primary income earners, and women are assigned to household work and child care. The research findings also confirmed that child marriage often occurs as a response to income poverty, which creates powerful and rational financial incentives for the early marriage of girls, particularly in contexts where there is the institution of dowry.
The research found that the number of years a girl spends in education is associated with her age of first marriage; girls who stay in school longer tend to marry later. Furthermore, male sexual violence and control of female sexuality underlie the practice of child marriage, whilst improved access to sexual and reproductive health rights reduces child marriage acceptability.
In addition to providing in depth analysis of these structural factors, the report also provides detailed programmatic recommendations to be actioned at individual, family, community and institutional levels in order to address poverty and lack of opportunity, improve access to education, promote community safety and address impunity for violence against women and girls, increase access to sexual and reproductive rights and services, and strengthen laws and institutional frameworks to respond to child marriage. Finally, the report provides suggestions for improved approaches to sensitization and messaging conducted by advocates campaigning against child marriage.
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