India has the highest number of young child brides in the world. A study done by Unicef reports that 18% of girls in India are married before they are 15 years old and 47% of girls in India are married before they are 18 years old. The problem of young marriages is that girls are forced to grow up quickly and important opportunities are taken away from them and their futures.
Some reasons that contribute to young girls being married are economic problems such as poverty and families have marriage expenses which dowries can help pay for. Also, young girls get married because their family are concerned with her safety, gender expectations, family honour. many girls get married young because there is a lack of educational opportunities. |