South Asia remarks the highest number of child brides - UNICEF reports

According to new estimates released by UNICEF on Wednesday, South Asia has become home to the highest number of child brides in the world following the increased financial pressures and school closures due to COVID-19 forcing families to marry off their young daughters.

 

There were 290 million child brides in the region accounting for 45% of the global total, the children’s agency of the United Nations said, calling for more efforts to end the practice.

 

A new study was conducted across 16 locations in Bangladesh, India and Nepal including interviews and discussions and found that many parents view marriage as the best option for daughters who had limited options to study during COVID lockdowns.

 

The legal age of marriage of females in Nepal is 20, in Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh 18 and in Afghanistan 16. Except for Sindh province, where the minimum age is 18, it is 16 in Pakistan.

 

The U.N. study also revealed that the financial strains during the pandemic have pushed parents to marry their daughters younger in order to reduce family expenses.