Explainer: 5 common myths about child marriage

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/02/1160241" /> <link rel="shortlink" href="https://news.un.org/en/node/1160241" /> <meta name="news_keywords" content="UN News, Global perspectives, Human Stories" /> <link rel="image_src" href="https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Embargoed/18-02-25-UNFPA-Bangladesh.jpg/image770x420cropped.jpg" /> <meta name="rights" content="COPYRIGHT © UNITED NATIONS" /> <meta property="al:android:app_name" content="UN News Reader" /> <meta property="al:android:package" content="org.un.mobile.news" /> <meta property="al:ios:app_name" content="UN News Reader" /> <meta property="al:ios:app_store_id" content="496893005" /> <meta property="al:ipad:app_name" content="UN News Reader" /> <meta property="al:ipad:app_store_id" content="496893005" /> <meta property="al:iphone:app_name" content="UN News Reader" /> <meta property="al:iphone:app_store_id" content="496893005" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="UN News" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/02/1160241" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Explainer: 5 common myths about child marriage" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Every day, almost one in five young women are married off while still children, according to the UN reproductive and sexual health agency, UNFPA, which is urging countries to say “I don’t” to child marriage, an illegal practice that is almost universally condemned and yet remains widespread globally." /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Embargoed/18-02-25-UNFPA-Bangladesh.jpg/image770x420cropped.jpg" /> <meta property="og:updated_time" content="2025-02-23T22:35:25-05:00" /> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2025-02-22T09:00:02-05:00" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2025-02-23T22:35:25-05:00" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Every day, almost one in five young women are married off while still children, according to the UN reproductive and sexual health agency, UNFPA, which is urging countries to say “I don’t” to child marriage, an illegal practice that is almost universally condemned and yet remains widespread globally." /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@UN_News_Centre" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Explainer: 5 common myths about child marriage" /> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@UN_News_Centre" /> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/02/1160241" /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Embargoed/18-02-25-UNFPA-Bangladesh.jpg/image770x420cropped.jpg" /> <meta name="twitter:image:alt" content="An information and awareness-raising session in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh." /> <meta name="twitter:image:height" content="420px" /> <meta name="twitter:image:width" content="770px" /> <meta name="twitter:app:name:iphone" content="UN News Reader" /> <meta name="twitter:app:id:iphone" content="496893005" /> <meta name="twitter:app:name:ipad" content="UN News Reader" /> <meta name="twitter:app:id:ipad" content="496893005" /> <meta name="twitter:app:name:googleplay" content="UN News Reader" /> <meta name="twitter:app:id:googleplay" content="org.un.mobile.news" /> <meta name="msvalidate.01" content="4810E42D0C6EFA40969557F307A275F0" /> <meta name="apple-itunes-app" content="app-id=496893005" /> <meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-title" content="UN News Reader" /> <meta name="format-detection" content="telephone=no" /> <link rel="alternate" href="android-app://https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.un.mobile.news&hl=en" /> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" /> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, shrink-to-fit=no" /> <meta http-equiv="x-ua-compatible" content="ie=edge" /> <link rel="icon" href="/en/themes/custom/un_base_theme/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/02/1160241" /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/un3/un3_base/node_modules/%40fontsource/roboto/files/roboto-latin-400-normal.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/un3/un3_base/node_modules/%40fontsource/roboto/files/roboto-latin-400-italic.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/un3/un3_base/node_modules/%40fontsource/roboto/files/roboto-latin-500-normal.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/un3/un3_base/node_modules/%40fontsource/roboto/files/roboto-latin-700-normal.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/un3/un3_base/node_modules/%40fontsource/roboto-condensed/files/roboto-condensed-latin-700-normal.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/un3/un3_base/node_modules/%40fontsource/oswald/files/oswald-latin-700-normal.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/en/libraries/fontawesome/webfonts/fa-solid-900.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/en/libraries/fontawesome/webfonts/fa-brands-400.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/un_base_theme/node_modules/%40fontsource/merriweather/files/merriweather-latin-700-normal.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/themes/custom/un3/un3_base/node_modules/%40fontsource/roboto/files/roboto-cyrillic-400-normal.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin /> <link rel="preload" href="/en/libraries/fontawesome/webfonts/fa-regular-400.woff2" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin /> <title>Explainer: 5 common myths about child marriage | UN News</title> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/en/sites/news.un.org.en/files/css/css_ctFej0gxwInCT8Z7hhCqkN0VL4B7DJ7yYJr-hmXkoMw.css?delta=0&language=en&theme=un_base_theme&include=eJyNkmFuwyAMhS9E4UjIBId4NRhhaNrbL4latVq1dX-A994nbCyCSNfeoPoArZG4WVo24aebURUSqmdKS3_Jtd8Y1YGobZil43tWeSQqNsB0Tk1GiX4SlmbDII6_49IifoauXheIsn4AM7SD_xOqECOV9IHqeO0etjmUjKX_B3597iQNXWyjAlv4gqvZAKZyfnh3aWYpHVZUyeheznbFsEs1GSOBm4n7NqUJaicpJlOhDLzPZCtzV6dDmQoN0tbhoo9aT8eOUkdg0gWjUZlou-Mo4Pdm1L1bti-Y0ehNO2YXQNGM4vfdH4ljKGlsX-YUcYbBfY-ZLuiLrO5xMBfCVd2x2ixxMH4DyfQEhw" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://unpkg.com/aos@2.3.1/dist/aos.css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/en/sites/news.un.org.en/files/css/css_Alpem6qAaVGIu8sDS_fUrJiNQuGN82qa-IsJEt8cAfw.css?delta=2&language=en&theme=un_base_theme&include=eJyNkmFuwyAMhS9E4UjIBId4NRhhaNrbL4latVq1dX-A994nbCyCSNfeoPoArZG4WVo24aebURUSqmdKS3_Jtd8Y1YGobZil43tWeSQqNsB0Tk1GiX4SlmbDII6_49IifoauXheIsn4AM7SD_xOqECOV9IHqeO0etjmUjKX_B3597iQNXWyjAlv4gqvZAKZyfnh3aWYpHVZUyeheznbFsEs1GSOBm4n7NqUJaicpJlOhDLzPZCtzV6dDmQoN0tbhoo9aT8eOUkdg0gWjUZlou-Mo4Pdm1L1bti-Y0ehNO2YXQNGM4vfdH4ljKGlsX-YUcYbBfY-ZLuiLrO5xMBfCVd2x2ixxMH4DyfQEhw" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/en/sites/news.un.org.en/files/css/css_FJl3ITza9JqQbcxq0C2l-2el8z-6uFlBMO2aRX-5cvc.css?delta=3&language=en&theme=un_base_theme&include=eJyNkmFuwyAMhS9E4UjIBId4NRhhaNrbL4latVq1dX-A994nbCyCSNfeoPoArZG4WVo24aebURUSqmdKS3_Jtd8Y1YGobZil43tWeSQqNsB0Tk1GiX4SlmbDII6_49IifoauXheIsn4AM7SD_xOqECOV9IHqeO0etjmUjKX_B3597iQNXWyjAlv4gqvZAKZyfnh3aWYpHVZUyeheznbFsEs1GSOBm4n7NqUJaicpJlOhDLzPZCtzV6dDmQoN0tbhoo9aT8eOUkdg0gWjUZlou-Mo4Pdm1L1bti-Y0ehNO2YXQNGM4vfdH4ljKGlsX-YUcYbBfY-ZLuiLrO5xMBfCVd2x2ixxMH4DyfQEhw" /> <script type="application/json" data-drupal-selector="drupal-settings-json">{"path":{"baseUrl":"\/en\/","pathPrefix":"","currentPath":"node\/1160241","currentPathIsAdmin":false,"isFront":false,"currentLanguage":"en"},"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"gtag":{"tagId":"","consentMode":false,"otherIds":[],"events":[],"additionalConfigInfo":[]},"ajaxPageState":{"libraries":"eJyNU1mS4yAMvRA2H3MgShgZayKQC0Gc3H6wK6mkk55O_1C8xVqQ7EWq1gKr81AKifV3YqBJshr_apglV9hQJeF3YknvbGTxwIPWK1OO73pCVYiojiku9V3PEp5z7XFQ7cotUh49TKdYpOXgJmEpo2_E4f92KQE_my5OFwiyfTAmKIf_R9MKIfS-P7h0KsLscJ5xqvrBXPFSHfTnyglz_Y35-W2mEwaqUlwFr4-JH3CcSx8w5u6SgjaUtgKPlRIOgebZBKjAcMViPS5wJilqevw-2NPdfIPmaVOet2bc0O9QTRSJjD1ttLEfr3iEv3D5SiaTeulgZ-LapzjBWkmySZQpAe8z6zXf0HAgs0KB2Ltb9F7fgxlbXptn0gWDUZmoxzgSuL0Bte_UWBfsi69XrZisB0XT8h-3X25r_sAMOba-10PAGRrXrhyCO2K8_hVfxe--ZTqjy7LZ-8WcCTe1xzkmCY3xHz_jgUg","theme":"un_base_theme","theme_token":null},"ajaxTrustedUrl":{"form_action_p_pvdeGsVG5zNF_XLGPTvYSKCf43t8qZYSwcfZl2uzM":true},"gtm":{"tagId":null,"settings":{"data_layer":"dataLayer","include_classes":false,"allowlist_classes":"google\nnonGooglePixels\nnonGoogleScripts\nnonGoogleIframes","blocklist_classes":"customScripts\ncustomPixels","include_environment":false,"environment_id":"","environment_token":""},"tagIds":["GTM-5F844BH"]},"dataLayer":{"defaultLang":"en","languages":{"en":{"id":"en","name":"English","direction":"ltr","weight":0}}},"data":{"extlink":{"extTarget":true,"extTargetAppendNewWindowLabel":"(opens in a new window)","extTargetNoOverride":true,"extNofollow":false,"extTitleNoOverride":false,"extNoreferrer":true,"extFollowNoOverride":false,"extClass":"0","extLabel":"(link is external)","extImgClass":false,"extSubdomains":true,"extExclude":"","extInclude":"","extCssExclude":"","extCssInclude":"","extCssExplicit":"","extAlert":false,"extAlertText":"This link will take you to an external web site. We are not responsible for their content.","extHideIcons":false,"mailtoClass":"0","telClass":"tel","mailtoLabel":"(link sends email)","telLabel":"(link is a phone number)","extUseFontAwesome":false,"extIconPlacement":"append","extPreventOrphan":false,"extFaLinkClasses":"fa fa-external-link","extFaMailtoClasses":"fa fa-envelope-o","extAdditionalLinkClasses":"","extAdditionalMailtoClasses":"","extAdditionalTelClasses":"","extFaTelClasses":"fa fa-phone","whitelistedDomains":[],"extExcludeNoreferrer":""}},"minimalShare":{"sizes":{"twitter":{"width":600,"height":260},"facebook":{"width":600,"height":500}}},"un_live_now":{"basePath":"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/","alert_rate":null,"refresh_rate":null,"autohide":null},"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"f3c80b6962dfc9cfb12ebfd1454c51677aea4413a4e3495e9e90af961660215f"}}</script> <script src="/en/sites/news.un.org.en/files/js/js_bzvVIKqxS6Ad4RApmSbYHB7sodvK-6yG0u2ksIE7Pe8.js?scope=header&delta=0&language=en&theme=un_base_theme&include=eJxdz1EOgzAIANALVfuxAzXUYmXSYlp07varRpdsP4QHBIIX0aoFFlf1zVgtSO0LJlE0w4yBVIpT8NX67-TBfiySFXMwgxS0oawLcK-UsAs0jiaAAsMbi_U4wUZSqsFdmfJ8D180USQytq3Rxhb-3cMT9t9iMokyJWBXJ2jXL3WnzJofzkNFG1k8cPNJpxOmu9gd31KOR5NpQ5flZe_kA3DNa3Q"></script> <script src="/en/modules/contrib/google_tag/js/gtag.js?ss7sdp"></script> <script src="/en/modules/contrib/google_tag/js/gtm.js?ss7sdp"></script> </head> <body class="layout-one-sidebar layout-sidebar-second page-node-1160241 path-node node--type-news-story"> <div class="visually-hidden-focusable bg-un-blue-5 text-center p-m"> <a href="#main-content" class="skip-link">Skip to main content / navigation</a> </div> <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5F844BH" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <div class="dialog-off-canvas-main-canvas" data-off-canvas-main-canvas> <div id="page-wrapper"> <div id="page"> <nav class="navbar navbar-expand site-header__top bg-light p-0" id="header__top"> <div class="container"> <a href="https://www.un.org/en" title="United Nations" class="site-welcome navbar-brand text-body fs-default p-0"> <i class="fa-solid fa-house align-self-center"></i><span>Welcome to the United Nations</span> </a> <section class="region region-secondary-menu"> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-un-base-theme-language-menu" id="block-un-base-theme-language" class="block block-menu navigation menu--language"> <h2 class="visually-hidden block-title" id="block-un-base-theme-language-menu"> Language </h2> <div class="block-content"> <ul class="clearfix nav navbar-nav"> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/ar/" class="nav-link nav-link--en-ar- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">العربية</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/zh/" class="nav-link nav-link--en-zh- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">中文</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/en/" class="nav-link active nav-link--en-en- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">English</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/fr/" class="nav-link nav-link--en-fr- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Français</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/ru/" class="nav-link nav-link--en-ru- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Русский</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/es/" class="nav-link nav-link--en-es- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Español</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/pt/" class="nav-link nav-link--en-pt- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Português</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/sw/" class="nav-link nav-link--en-sw- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Kiswahili</a> </li> <li class="nav-item menu-item--expanded dropdown"> <button class="nav-link dropdown-toggle nav-link- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" data-bs-auto-close="outside" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true" type="button">Other</button> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li> <a href="/hi/" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-hi- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Hindi हिंदी</a> </li> <li> <a href="/ur/" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-ur- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Urdu اردو</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://unic.un.org/aroundworld/unics/en/whatWeDo/productsAndServices/websites/index.asp?callPage=home" class="dropdown-item nav-link-https--unicunorg-aroundworld-unics-en-whatwedo-productsandservices-websites-indexaspcallpagehome d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Global</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> </section> </div> </nav> <div class="site-header__main-wrapper sticky-top bg-white border-top border-4 border-un-blue"> <div id="header__main" class="site-header__main"> <div class="container"> <div class="row align-items-center flex-nowrap"> <div class="col"> <div id="block-un-base-theme-branding" class="clearfix site-branding d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="site-logo flex-shrink-0"> <a href="/en/" title="United Nations"> <img src="/en/themes/custom/un3/un3_base/images/logos/UN_logo_en.svg" alt="United Nations"> </a> </div> <div class="site-name-slogan flex-grow-1 d-flex flex-column justify-content-center border-start border-1 border-black ms-m ps-m"> <div class="site-name"> <a href="/en/" title="UN News" rel="home"> UN News </a> </div> <div class="site-slogan"> Global perspective Human stories </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-auto d-flex align-self-stretch"> <button class="language-toggler collapsed align-self-center btn border-0 gap-0 shadow-none p-0" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target=".region-top-header-form .block-language" aria-expanded="false">English</button> <button class="search-toggler collapsed d-none align-self-center btn gap-0 shadow-none text-uppercase ms-g mb-0 p-0" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target=".region-top-header-form .block-search, .region-top-header-form .block-simple-search-form" aria-expanded="false">Search</button> <button class="navbar-toggler align-self-start d-lg-none collapsed border-0 ps-2 py-2" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#CollapsingNavbar" aria-controls="CollapsingNavbar" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Toggle navigation"><span class="navbar-toggler-icon d-inline-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"><i class="fa-solid fa-bars"></i><i class="fa-solid fa-xmark d-none"></i></span></button> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <section class="region region-top-header-form"> <div class="un-news-search-block-form block-search block block-un-news-search block-un-news-search-block collapse" data-drupal-selector="un-news-search-block-form" id="block-un-news-search-block"> <div class="block-content block__content"> <form action="/en/story/2025/02/1160241" method="post" id="un-news-search-block-form" accept-charset="UTF-8"> <input autocomplete="off" data-drupal-selector="form-7-u6sc7zh6gny1dvslgufilr-7-ix7dtlclngc-dqg" type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form--7_U6sc7Zh6GNY1dvSlguFilr-7_Ix7DTlClnGc-dQg" class="form-control" /> <input data-drupal-selector="edit-un-news-search-block-form" type="hidden" name="form_id" value="un_news_search_block_form" class="form-control" /> <div data-drupal-selector="edit-actions" class="form-actions js-form-wrapper form-wrapper mb-3" id="edit-actions"> <div class="js-form-item js-form-type-textfield form-type-textfield js-form-item-search form-item-search form-no-label mb-3"> <input data-drupal-selector="edit-search" type="text" id="edit-search" name="search" value="" size="60" maxlength="128" placeholder="Search" class="form-control" dir="ltr" /> </div> <button data-drupal-selector="edit-submit" type="submit" id="edit-submit" name="op" value="Search" class="button js-form-submit form-submit btn btn-primary">Search</button> </div> <a href="/en/advanced-search" class="advanced-search">Advanced Search</a> </form> </div> </div> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-un-base-theme-language-dropdown-menu" id="block-un-base-theme-language-dropdown" class="block-language collapse block block-menu navigation menu--language"> <h2 class="visually-hidden block-title" id="block-un-base-theme-language-dropdown-menu"> Language </h2> <div class="block-content"> <ul class="clearfix nav navbar-nav"> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/ar/" class="nav-link nav-link--en-ar- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">العربية</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/zh/" class="nav-link nav-link--en-zh- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">中文</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/en/" class="nav-link active nav-link--en-en- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">English</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/fr/" class="nav-link nav-link--en-fr- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Français</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/ru/" class="nav-link nav-link--en-ru- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Русский</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/es/" class="nav-link nav-link--en-es- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Español</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/pt/" class="nav-link nav-link--en-pt- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Português</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/sw/" class="nav-link nav-link--en-sw- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Kiswahili</a> </li> <li class="nav-item menu-item--expanded dropdown"> <button class="nav-link dropdown-toggle nav-link- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" data-bs-auto-close="outside" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true" type="button">Other</button> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li> <a href="/hi/" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-hi- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Hindi हिंदी</a> </li> <li> <a href="/ur/" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-ur- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Urdu اردو</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://unic.un.org/aroundworld/unics/en/whatWeDo/productsAndServices/websites/index.asp?callPage=home" class="dropdown-item nav-link-https--unicunorg-aroundworld-unics-en-whatwedo-productsandservices-websites-indexaspcallpagehome d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Global</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> </section> </div> <div id="header__bottom" class="site-header__bottom d-lg-none"> <div class="container d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="navbar-brand my-m"> <div class="site-branding d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="site-name-slogan flex-grow-1 d-flex flex-column justify-content-center"> <div class="site-name"> <a href="/en/" title="UN News" rel="home"> UN News </a> </div> <div class="site-slogan"> Global perspective Human stories </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <nav class="navbar navbar-expand-lg navbar-expand-lg navbar-main sticky-top p-0" id="navbar-main"> <div class="container align-items-start justify-content-start"> <div class="collapse navbar-collapse justify-content-start bg-light position-relative" id="CollapsingNavbar"> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-un-base-theme-main-menu-menu" id="block-un-base-theme-main-menu" class="block block-menu navigation menu--main"> <h2 id="block-un-base-theme-main-menu-menu" class="block-title"> <a href="#CollapsingNavbar" data-bs-toggle="collapse">Menu</a> </h2> <div class="show block-content"> <ul class="clearfix nav navbar-nav"> <li class="nav-item menu-item--expanded dropdown"> <a href="/en/" class="nav-link dropdown-toggle nav-link--en- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" title="Home" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" data-bs-auto-close="outside" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true" data-drupal-link-system-path="<front>">Home</a> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li> <a href="/en/news/region/global" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-news-region-global d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Global</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/news/region/africa" title="Africa" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-news-region-africa d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Africa</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/news/region/americas" title="Americas" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-news-region-americas d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Americas</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/news/region/asia-pacific" title="Asia Pacific" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-news-region-asia-pacific d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Asia Pacific</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/news/region/middle-east" title="Middle East" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-news-region-middle-east d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Middle East</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/news/region/europe" title="Europe" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-news-region-europe d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Europe</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/spotlight/un-art-and-gifts" title="UN Art and Gifts" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-spotlight-un-art-and-gifts d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">UN Art and Gifts</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/spotlight/character-sketches-brian-urquhart" title="History Corner" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-spotlight-character-sketches-brian-urquhart d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">History Corner</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="nav-item menu-item--expanded dropdown"> <a href="" title="Topics" class="nav-link dropdown-toggle nav-link- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" data-bs-auto-close="outside" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true">Topics</a> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li> <a href="/en/news/topic/peace-and-security" title="Peace and Security" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-news-topic-peace-and-security d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Peace and Security</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/news/topic/economic-development" title="Economic Development" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-news-topic-economic-development d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Economic Development</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/news/topic/humanitarian-aid" title="Humanitarian Aid" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-news-topic-humanitarian-aid d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Humanitarian Aid</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/news/topic/climate-change" title="Climate and Environment" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-news-topic-climate-change d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Climate and Environment</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/news/topic/human-rights" title="Human Rights" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-news-topic-human-rights d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Human Rights</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/news/topic/un-affairs" title="UN Affairs" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-news-topic-un-affairs d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">UN Affairs</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/news/topic/women" title="Women" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-news-topic-women d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Women</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/news/topic/law-and-crime-prevention" title="Law and Crime Prevention" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-news-topic-law-and-crime-prevention d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Law and Crime Prevention</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/news/topic/health" title="Health" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-news-topic-health d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Health</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/news/topic/culture-and-education" title="Culture and Education" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-news-topic-culture-and-education d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Culture and Education</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/news/topic/sdgs" title="SDGs" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-news-topic-sdgs d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">SDGs</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/news/topic/migrants-and-refugees" title="Migrants and Refugees" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-news-topic-migrants-and-refugees d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Migrants and Refugees</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="nav-item menu-item--expanded dropdown"> <a href="" title="In depth" class="nav-link dropdown-toggle nav-link- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" data-bs-auto-close="outside" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true">In depth</a> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li> <a href="/en/interviews" title="Interviews" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-interviews d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" data-drupal-link-system-path="interviews">Interviews</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/features" title="Features" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-features d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" data-drupal-link-system-path="features">Features</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/gallery" title="Photo Stories" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-gallery d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" data-drupal-link-system-path="gallery">Photo Stories</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/audio-product/news-brief" title="News in Brief" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-audio-product-news-brief d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">UN News Today</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/audio-product/podcast-the-lid-is-on" title="The Lid is On" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-audio-product-podcast-the-lid-is-on d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">The Lid is On</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/audio-product/focus-gender" title="UN Gender Focus" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-audio-product-focus-gender d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">UN Gender Focus</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/audio-product/un-and-africa" title="UN and Africa" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-audio-product-un-and-africa d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">UN and Africa</a> </li> <li> <a href="/en/un-podcasts" title="UN Podcasts" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-un-podcasts d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">UN Podcasts</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="nav-item menu-item--expanded dropdown"> <a href="https://www.un.org/sg/en" title="Secretary-General" class="nav-link dropdown-toggle nav-link-https--wwwunorg-sg-en d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" data-bs-auto-close="outside" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true">Secretary-General</a> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li> <a href="https://www.un.org/sg/en/spokesperson" title="Spokesperson" class="dropdown-item nav-link-https--wwwunorg-sg-en-spokesperson d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Spokesperson</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.un.org/sg/en/latest/sg/statement" title="All Statements" class="dropdown-item nav-link-https--wwwunorg-sg-en-latest-sg-statement d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">All Statements</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/secretary-generals-speeches" title="Selected Speeches" class="dropdown-item nav-link-https--wwwunorg-sg-en-content-sg-secretary-generals-speeches d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Selected Speeches</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/press-encounters" title="Press Encounters" class="dropdown-item nav-link-https--wwwunorg-sg-en-content-sg-press-encounters d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Press Encounters</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/travels" title="Official Travels" class="dropdown-item nav-link-https--wwwunorg-sg-en-content-travels d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Official Travels</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="nav-item menu-item--expanded dropdown"> <a href="" title="Media" class="nav-link dropdown-toggle nav-link- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" data-bs-auto-close="outside" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true">Media</a> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li> <a href="https://www.un.org/video" title="UN Video" class="dropdown-item nav-link-https--wwwunorg-video d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">UN Video</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://dam.media.un.org" title="UN Photo" class="dropdown-item nav-link-https--dammediaunorg d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">UN Photo</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.un.org/press/en" title="Meeting Coverage" class="dropdown-item nav-link-https--wwwunorg-press-en d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Meeting Coverage</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.un.org/en/media/accreditation/index.shtml" title="Media Accreditation" class="dropdown-item nav-link-https--wwwunorg-en-media-accreditation-indexshtml d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Media Accreditation</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://webtv.un.org/en" title="Webtv" class="dropdown-item nav-link-https--webtvunorg-en d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">UN Web TV</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-un-base-theme-language-primary-menu" id="block-un-base-theme-language-primary" class="block-language block block-menu navigation menu--language"> <h2 id="block-un-base-theme-language-primary-menu" class="block-title"> <a href="#block-un-base-theme-language-primary-content" class="collapsed" data-bs-toggle="collapse">Language</a> </h2> <div class="collapse block-content" id="block-un-base-theme-language-primary-content"> <ul class="clearfix nav navbar-nav"> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/ar/" class="nav-link nav-link--en-ar- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">العربية</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/zh/" class="nav-link nav-link--en-zh- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">中文</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/en/" class="nav-link active nav-link--en-en- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">English</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/fr/" class="nav-link nav-link--en-fr- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Français</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/ru/" class="nav-link nav-link--en-ru- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Русский</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/es/" class="nav-link nav-link--en-es- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Español</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/pt/" class="nav-link nav-link--en-pt- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Português</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/sw/" class="nav-link nav-link--en-sw- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Kiswahili</a> </li> <li class="nav-item menu-item--expanded dropdown"> <button class="nav-link dropdown-toggle nav-link- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" data-bs-toggle="dropdown" data-bs-auto-close="outside" aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true" type="button">Other</button> <ul class="dropdown-menu"> <li> <a href="/hi/" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-hi- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Hindi हिंदी</a> </li> <li> <a href="/ur/" class="dropdown-item nav-link--en-ur- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Urdu اردو</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://unic.un.org/aroundworld/unics/en/whatWeDo/productsAndServices/websites/index.asp?callPage=home" class="dropdown-item nav-link-https--unicunorg-aroundworld-unics-en-whatwedo-productsandservices-websites-indexaspcallpagehome d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Global</a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> <div class="un-news-search-block-form block-search block block-un-news-search block-un-news-search-block block-un-news-search-block-primary" data-drupal-selector="un-news-search-block-form-2" id="block-un-news-search-block-primary"> <h2 class="block-title block__title"> <a href="#block-un-news-search-block-primary-content" class="collapsed" data-bs-toggle="collapse">Search</a> </h2> <div class="collapse p-m block-content block__content" id="block-un-news-search-block-primary-content"> <form action="/en/story/2025/02/1160241" method="post" id="un-news-search-block-form--2" accept-charset="UTF-8"> <input autocomplete="off" data-drupal-selector="form-7haosngb4qlycervohlkr0gqem2ryoc3a2papmbyxls" type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form-7HaosNgb4QlYceRvOhlKR0GqeM2RyoC3A2PapmbyXLs" class="form-control" /> <input data-drupal-selector="edit-un-news-search-block-form-2" type="hidden" name="form_id" value="un_news_search_block_form" class="form-control" /> <div data-drupal-selector="edit-actions" class="form-actions js-form-wrapper form-wrapper mb-3" id="edit-actions--2"> <div class="js-form-item js-form-type-textfield form-type-textfield js-form-item-search form-item-search form-no-label mb-3"> <input data-drupal-selector="edit-search" type="text" id="edit-search--2" name="search" value="" size="60" maxlength="128" placeholder="Search" class="form-control" dir="ltr" /> </div> <button data-drupal-selector="edit-submit" type="submit" id="edit-submit--2" name="op" value="Search" class="button js-form-submit form-submit btn btn-primary">Search</button> </div> <a href="/en/advanced-search" class="advanced-search">Advanced Search</a> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <div class="container py-s"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-lg"> <section class="region region-top-left-column"> <div id="block-un-live-now" class="block block-un-live-now block-un-live-now-block"> <div class="block-content block__content"> </div> </div> </section> </div> <div class="col-lg"> <section class="region region-top-right-column"> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-audioandsubscription-menu" id="block-audioandsubscription" class="block block-menu navigation menu--audio-and-subscription"> <h2 class="visually-hidden block-title" id="block-audioandsubscription-menu"> Audio and Subscription </h2> <div class="block-content"> <ul class="clearfix nav navbar-nav"> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/en/audio-hub" class="audio-hub-link nav-link nav-link--en-audio-hub d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" title="Audio Hub" data-drupal-link-system-path="audio-hub"><span class="link-text">Audio Hub</span> <i class="fa-solid fa-microphone" aria-hidden="true"></i></a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/en/content/un-newsletter-subscribe" class="subscribe-link nav-link nav-link--en-content-un-newsletter-subscribe d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" title="Subscribe"><span class="link-text">Subscribe</span> <i class="fa-solid fa-envelope" aria-hidden="true"></i></a> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> </section> </div> </div> </div> <div class="highlighted"> <aside class="container section clearfix" role="complementary"> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> </aside> </div> <section class="region region-before-content"> <div class="views-element-container block block-views block-views-block-story-photo-block-image" id="block-views-block-story-photo-block-image"> <div class="block-content block__content"> <div> <div class="view view-story-photo view-id-story_photo view-display-id-block_image js-view-dom-id-a3e39853023839371c996c75da9677ee5a8f1e8c8ccb38ad2d575a35cf610194"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row"> <div class="node node--type-news-story node--view-mode-top-image-full-width clearfix"> <div class="story-media"> <div class="media-image"> <div class="ratio ratio-21x9 field field--name-field-news-story-photo field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"><picture> <source media="(max-width: 413px)" srcset="https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Embargoed/18-02-25-UNFPA-Bangladesh.jpg/image350x235cropped.jpg" /> <source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Embargoed/18-02-25-UNFPA-Bangladesh.jpg/image560x340cropped.jpg" /> <source media="(max-width: 991px)" srcset="https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Embargoed/18-02-25-UNFPA-Bangladesh.jpg/image770x420cropped.jpg" /> <source media="(max-width: 1199px)" srcset="https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Embargoed/18-02-25-UNFPA-Bangladesh.jpg/image1170x530cropped.jpg" /> <source media="(min-width: 1200px)" srcset="https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Embargoed/18-02-25-UNFPA-Bangladesh.jpg/image1170x530cropped.jpg" /> <img src="https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Embargoed/18-02-25-UNFPA-Bangladesh.jpg/image1440x560cropped.jpg" width="1440" height="560" alt="An information and awareness-raising session in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh." title="An information and awareness-raising session in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh." loading="lazy" /> </picture> </div> </div> <div class="story-title"> <h1><span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Explainer: 5 common myths about child marriage</span> </h1> </div> </div> <div class="story-caption full-width"> <div class="context-caption_credit type-entermedia_image media media--type-entermedia-image media--view-mode-caption-credit"> <div class="field field--name-field-authors field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item">© UNFPA Bangladesh/Farjana Sultana</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">An information and awareness-raising session in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <div id="main-wrapper" class="layout-main-wrapper clearfix"> <div id="main-container" class="container layout-main-container"> <div class="row row-offcanvas row-offcanvas-left clearfix"> <div class="minimal-share-wrapper col-lg-3"> <p class="minimal-share"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/02/1160241" title="Share this via Facebook" class="facebook" data-ms="facebook">Facebook</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Explainer: 5 common myths about child marriage&url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/02/1160241" title="Share this via Twitter" class="twitter" data-ms="twitter">Twitter</a> <a href="" title="Share this via Print" class="print" data-ms="print">Print</a> <a href="mailto:?subject=Explainer: 5 common myths about child marriage&body=https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/02/1160241" title="Share this via Email" class="email" data-ms="email">Email</a> </p> </div> <main class="main-content col-lg-9" id="content" role="main"> <section class="section"> <a id="main-content" tabindex="-1"></a> <div id="block-un-base-theme-page-title" class="block block-core block-page-title-block block-un-base-theme-page-title"> <div class="block-content block__content"> <h1 class="title"><span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Explainer: 5 common myths about child marriage</span> </h1> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container block block-views block-views-block-content-fields-block-lead" id="block-views-block-content-fields-block-lead"> <div class="block-content block__content"> <div> <div class="view view-content-fields view-id-content_fields view-display-id-block_lead js-view-dom-id-535548beefaf67ee7f826c7296d847ddd1dfc63e503de270b3a5713163f5201e"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row"> <span class="views-field views-field-field-news-date"><span class="field-content"><time datetime="2025-02-22T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">22 February 2025</time> </span></span> <span class="views-field views-field-field-news-topics"><span class="field-content"><a href="/en/news/topic/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></span></span> <div class="views-field views-field-field-news-story-lead"><div class="field-content"><p><span lang="EN">Every day, almost </span><a href="https://www.unfpa.org/child-marriage-frequently-asked-questions"><span lang="EN">one in five young women</span></a><span lang="EN"> are married off while still children, according to the UN reproductive and sexual health agency, UNFPA, which is urging countries to say “I don’t” to child marriage, an illegal practice that is almost universally condemned and yet remains widespread globally.</span></p> </div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-un-base-theme-content" class="block block-system block-system-main-block block-un-base-theme-content"> <div class="block-content block__content"> <article class="node node--type-news-story node--view-mode-full clearfix"> <header> </header> <div class="node__content clearfix"> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container block block-views block-views-block-content-fields-block-body" id="block-views-block-content-fields-block-body"> <div class="block-content block__content"> <div> <div class="view view-content-fields view-id-content_fields view-display-id-block_body js-view-dom-id-3c2004c8f161bf00dffb2274088769a534263b6c1093849e646206f7d570f580"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-news-story"><div class="field-content"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--one-column-text paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="_none"><div class="w-100"> <div class="layout row layout-builder__layout"> <div class="col-12"> <div class="_none block block-layout-builder block-field-block-paragraph-one-column-text-field-text-column"> <div class="block-content block__content"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text-column field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>“I was married at 14, and I lost my first child at 16 during pregnancy,” <a href="https://www.unfpa.org/news/child-brides-fight-back-against-gender-based-violence-bangladesh">Ranu Chakma</a> said. Child marriage is common in her village of Teknaf Upazila, on the southern coast of Bangladesh, even though it is illegal and a human rights violation.</p><p>Those violations occur even at a time when many countries are banning the illegal practice, most recently in <a href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/12/1158461">Colombia</a>, where a law came into effect earlier this month.</p><p>Here are five common misconceptions about child marriage:</p><h2><strong>Myth 1: It’s always illegal</strong></h2><p>Child marriage is banned under many international agreements, from the <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/crc.aspx">Convention on the Rights of the Child</a> and the <a href="https://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/">Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women</a> to the Programme of Action of the <a href="https://www.unfpa.org/icpd">International Conference on Population and Development</a> in 1994. Still, there are 640 million women and girls in the world who were child brides, with more child marriages taking place every day.</p><p>How is that possible? Many countries ban child marriage in principle, but define the permissible age of marriage as something other than 18 or permit exceptions with parental consent or under religious or customary law. In many cases these marriages, and marriages in general, are not legally registered, making enforcement of the law difficult.</p><p>Addressing child marriage requires more than laws; it requires rethinking how society values girls.</p><p>Programmes like<a href="https://www.unfpa.org/news/unleashing-potential-adolescent-girls-india-through-life-skills-education"> Taalim-i-Naubalighan</a>, in Bihar, India, where two in five children marry before age 18, are having an impact. These programmes encourage young people to think about topics such as gender roles and human rights.</p><p>“That’s why I was able to help my sister,” said Altamash, a male student whose sister wanted to avoid child marriage and continue her studies. “When I understood her desire and how it would help her, I advocated for her to my father. She is now going to complete her education, and I am so proud of her.”</p><div class="context-un_news_full_width_credit_caption type-entermedia_image media media--type-entermedia-image media--view-mode-un-news-full-width-credit-caption"> <div class="field field--name-thumbnail field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"><img src="https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Embargoed/18-02-25-UNFPA-Madagascar.jpg/image1170x530cropped.jpg" alt="In Madagascar, information sessions are key in changing minds and raising awareness about child marriage and other harmful practices." title="In Madagascar, information sessions are key in changing minds and raising awareness about child marriage and other harmful practices." loading="lazy" width="1170" height="530"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-authors field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item">© UNFPA Madagascar</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">In Madagascar, information sessions are key in changing minds and raising awareness about child marriage and other harmful practices.</div> </div> <h2><strong>Myth 2: Sometimes child marriage is necessary</strong></h2><p>Child marriage remains pervasive in part because it is seen as a solution to other problems.</p><p>In humanitarian crises, child marriage rates often rise, with parents believing marriage will secure a daughter’s future by making a husband responsible for economically supporting her and protecting her from violence. Child marriage is seen as a solution that will preserve the honour of a girl and her family after – or in some cases before – she becomes pregnant. In developing countries, the majority of adolescent births take place within a marriage.</p><p>Yet, child marriage is not a real solution to any of these issues. Child marriage <a href="https://www.unfpa.org/child-marriage-frequently-asked-questions#what%20are%20the%20consequences?">itself leads</a> to girls experiencing high levels of sexual, physical and emotional violence from their intimate partners. Pregnancy is dangerous for girls; complications of pregnancy and childbirth are one of the leading causes of death among adolescent girls. Child brides and adolescent mothers are often forced to drop out of school, upending their future prospects.</p><p>Nicolette, 16, in Madagascar was so accustomed to seeing her classmates disappear from school after marrying and becoming pregnant, she never thought to question the practice. That’s until she attended a <a href="https://www.unfpa.org/news/%E2%80%9Cmarriage-choice%E2%80%9D-working-people-disabilities-address-gender-based-violence-madagascar">UNFPA-supported awareness session</a>.</p><p>“I didn’t know that we could be victims of child marriage,” she said. Now, she wants all the girls in her community to know: “Everyone has the right to realise their ambitions, and marriage is a choice.”</p><div class="context-un_news_full_width_credit_caption type-entermedia_image media media--type-entermedia-image media--view-mode-un-news-full-width-credit-caption"> <div class="field field--name-thumbnail field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"><img src="https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Embargoed/18-02-25-UNFPA-Niger.jpg/image1170x530cropped.jpg" alt="More than three quarters of girls in Niger are married while they are still children." title="More than three quarters of girls in Niger are married while they are still children." loading="lazy" width="1170" height="530"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-authors field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item">© UNFPA Niger</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">More than three quarters of girls in Niger are married while they are still children.</div> </div> <h2><strong>Myth 3: This problem is going away</strong></h2><p>Child marriage may sound like a problem of the past or of faraway places, but in fact it remains a serious threat to girls around the world.</p><p>While global child marriage rates are slowly falling, the places with the highest rates also have the most population growth, meaning the absolute number of child marriages is <a href="https://www.unfpa.org/child-marriage-frequently-asked-questions#how%20common%20is%20child%20marriage">expected to increase</a>.</p><p>The problem is indeed global. The largest number of child brides live in the Asia and Pacific region, the highest rate of child marriage is seen in sub-Saharan Africa and lack of progress in Latin America and the Caribbean mean that this region is expected to have the second highest prevalence of child marriage by 2030.</p><p>Yet, the issue is not limited to developing nations. It takes place in countries like the United Kingdom and United States, too.</p><p>“I was basically introduced to somebody in the morning, and I was forced to marry him that night,” Sara Tasneem <a href="https://www.unfpa.org/publications/state-world-population-2020">said</a>, recalling her marriage, first an informal spiritual union at age 15 then legally at age 16. “I got pregnant right away, and we were legally married in Reno, Nevada, where it only required permission signed by my dad.”</p><p>To change this, actions must be accelerated to end child marriage, especially by empowering girls.</p><p>“I was 13 years old when my father gave my hand in marriage to a cousin,” 16-year-old Hadiza, in Niger, <a href="https://www.unfpa.org/news/empowering-adolescent-girls-niger-take-control-their-lives-%E2%80%93-and-futures">said</a>. Fortunately, she had access to a safe space through a <a href="https://www.unfpa.org/">UNFPA</a>-supported youth programme. “I spoke to a safe space mentor, who, with the help of the neighbourhood chief, negotiated with my parents to postpone the wedding.”</p><p>Today, Hadiza is an apprentice to a tailor, learning the skills to become economically self-sufficient. “In three years I plan to get married to the man I love,” she said.</p><div class="context-un_news_full_width_credit_caption type-entermedia_image media media--type-entermedia-image media--view-mode-un-news-full-width-credit-caption"> <div class="field field--name-thumbnail field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"><img src="https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Embargoed/18-02-25-UNFPA-Zambia.jpg/image1170x530cropped.jpg" alt="Nurse Suvannah Sinakaaba attends to pregnant teenagers at the UNFPA-supported mobile clinic in Namalyo village, Zambia." title="Nurse Suvannah Sinakaaba attends to pregnant teenagers at the UNFPA-supported mobile clinic in Namalyo village, Zambia." loading="lazy" width="1170" height="530"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-authors field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item">© UNFPA Zambia/Julien Adam</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Nurse Suvannah Sinakaaba attends to pregnant teenagers at the UNFPA-supported mobile clinic in Namalyo village, Zambia.</div> </div> <h2><strong>Myth 4: It’s a cultural or religious issue</strong></h2><p>Child marriage is sometimes misrepresented as a religiously or culturally mandated practice. But, there are no major religious traditions that require child marriage.</p><p>In fact, cultural and religious leaders around the world often take a strong stance against child marriage, especially when provided evidence about the consequences of the practice.</p><p>“We have always taught young people that, both religiously and legally, it was not advisable,” Shirkhan Chobanov, the <a href="https://georgia.unfpa.org/en/news/unfpa-continues-meetings-religious-leaders-prevent-childearly-marriage">imam of Jumah Mosque</a> in Tbilisi, Georgia, said. “We also explained to those young people that they had to accomplish other tasks, primarily concerning their education, before thinking about starting a family.”</p><p>UNFPA works with faith leaders around the world who are working to end child marriage, including <a href="https://www.unfpa.org/news/astrologers-shamans-and-priests-mobilize-against-child-marriage-nepal">priests</a>, <a href="https://www.unfpa.org/news/nuns-and-monks-break-silence-sexual-and-reproductive-health-and-rights-bhutan">monks, nuns</a> and <a href="https://www.unfpa.org/news/mauritania-imams-take-radio-waves-say-child-marriage-against-islam">imams</a>.</p><p>“We are seeing very good results as far as warding off child marriage is concerned,” said Gebreegziabher Tiku, a <a href="https://www.unfpa.org/news/community-led-enforcement-shows-way-ending-child-marriage-ethiopia">priest </a>in Ethiopia.</p><h2><strong>Myth 5: It only happens to girls</strong></h2><p>While the vast majority of child marriages involve girls, boys can also be married off.</p><p>Globally, 115 million boys and men were married before age 18, according to <a href="https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/115-million-boys-and-men-around-world-married-children-unicef">2019 data</a>. These unions are also <a href="https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/child-marriage/?_gl=1*ytrhk4*_ga*NjkyODUwNzUwLjE3Mzc2MzkxNzE.*_ga_ZEPV2PX419*MTczOTM4OTczOC40LjEuMTczOTM4OTg0MS4yNC4wLjA.*_gcl_au*MjAwMTc5NDUwNC4xNzM3NjM5MTk0*_ga_P0DMSZ8KY6*MTczOTM4OTczOS40LjEuMTczOTM4OTg0My4yMS4wLjA.">linked </a>to early fatherhood, constrained education and reduced opportunities in life.</p><p>Still, girls are disproportionately affected by the practice, with about one in five young women aged 20 to 24 years old married before their 18th birthday, compared to one in 30 young men. Child marriage rates for boys are very low even in countries where child marriage among girls is relatively high.</p><div class="align-right context-un_news_large_uncropped_credit_caption type-entermedia_image media media--type-entermedia-image media--view-mode-un-news-large-uncropped-credit-caption"> <div class="field field--name-thumbnail field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"><img src="https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Embargoed/18-02-25-UNFPA-Nicaragua.jpg/image1024x768.jpg" alt="Youth empowerment programmes are reaching all adolescents with information about their human rights in Nicaragua, which has one of the highest rates of child marriage among boys." title="Youth empowerment programmes are reaching all adolescents with information about their human rights in Nicaragua, which has one of the highest rates of child marriage among boys." loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-authors field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item">© UNFPA Nicaragua</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Youth empowerment programmes are reaching all adolescents with information about their human rights in Nicaragua, which has one of the highest rates of child marriage among boys.</div> </div> <p>No matter the gender of the child affected nor the country in which the union takes place, child marriage is a harmful practice that requires addressing a common set of root causes. They include economic inequality, limited access to sexual and reproductive health services and information, and factors such as conflict. One of the biggest root causes – gender inequality – requires urgent and renewed focus.</p><p>“While we have abolished child marriage, we have not abolished predatory masculinity,” said Dr. Gabrielle Hosein, director of the Institute of Gender and Development Studies at the University of the West Indies, in Trinidad and Tobago, shortly after that country had outlawed child marriage.</p><p>Kevin Liverpool, an activist with the advocacy group <a href="https://cpdcngo.org/ngo-resource-directory/caribbean-male-action-network-cariman-2/">CariMAN</a>, said men and boys have a critical role to play.</p><p>“It’s important to raise awareness among these groups, among these individuals, about what feminism is, why gender equality is important for women, but also for men and for all of society,” he said.</p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> </div> </div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container block block-views block-views-block-content-footer-block-1" id="block-views-block-content-footer-block-1"> <div class="block-content block__content"> <div> <div class="view view-content-footer view-id-content_footer view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-24e087db779ec393948ff2f31811c9fde4da5e91d9943fd98a0597e5fa06269a"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-content-footer" class="block block-simple-block block-simple-block-content-footer block-content-footer"> <div class="block-content block__content"> <div class="panel panel-info"> <div class="panel-heading">♦ Receive daily updates directly in your inbox - <a href="https://news.un.org/en/content/un-newsletter-subscribe?utm_source=UN News&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=un_news_newsletter"><strong>Subscribe here</strong></a> to a topic.</div> <div class="panel-heading">♦ Download the UN News app for your <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/un-news-reader/id496893005?mt=8"><strong>iOS</strong></a> or <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.un.mobile.news&hl=en"><strong>Android</strong></a> devices.</div> </div> <div class="sharethis-inline-reaction-buttons"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="views-element-container block block-views block-views-block-content-fields-block-tags" id="block-views-block-content-fields-block-tags"> <div class="block-content block__content"> <div> <div class="view view-content-fields view-id-content_fields view-display-id-block_tags js-view-dom-id-f512c714f482511e0940a837122a7c9dc9b609c76145eb3422a1f17e72075c65"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-news-tags"><div class="field-content"><div class="item-list"><ul class="list-group"><li class="list-group-item"><a href="/en/tags/explainer" hreflang="en">explainer</a></li><li class="list-group-item"><a href="/en/tags/child-marriage" hreflang="en">child marriage</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </main> <div class="sidebar_second sidebar order-last col-lg-3" id="sidebar_second"> <aside class="section" role="complementary"> <div class="views-element-container block block-views block-views-block-content-related-block-related-stories" id="block-views-block-content-related-block-related-stories"> <h2 class="block-title block__title"> Related Stories </h2> <div class="block-content block__content"> <div> <div class="view view-content-related view-id-content_related view-display-id-block_related_stories js-view-dom-id-6c7669547226be5024b2d49742c93a6c6cad964b006e21205b59af2dc591f1d6"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-news-story-photo"><span class="field-content"><a href='/en/story/2020/04/1062742'><img src="https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Libraries/Production+Library/28-04-2020-UNFPA-Syria-01.jpg/image100x100cropped.jpg" alt="Outreach workers in Syria say they are worried about the vulnerability of women and girls under curfew." title="Outreach workers in Syria say they are worried about the vulnerability of women and girls under curfew." loading="lazy" width="100" height="100" /> </a></span></div> <div class="views-field views-field-title"><h3 class="field-content"> <a href="/en/story/2020/04/1062742" hreflang="en">COVID-19 could lead to millions of unintended pregnancies, new UN-backed data reveals</a></h3></div></div> <div class="views-row"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-news-story-photo"><span class="field-content"><a href='/en/story/2025/01/1159266'><img src="https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Embargoed/18-04-2024-WHO-Gaza-04.jpg/image100x100cropped.jpg" alt="A young girl suffering from acute malnutrition is transferred from Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza to a field hospital in the south in April 2024. (file)" title="A young girl suffering from acute malnutrition is transferred from Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza to a field hospital in the south in April 2024. (file)" loading="lazy" width="100" height="100" /> </a></span></div> <div class="views-field views-field-title"><h3 class="field-content"> <a href="/en/story/2025/01/1159266" hreflang="en">What is the World Health Organization and why does it matter?</a></h3></div></div> <div class="views-row"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-news-story-photo"><span class="field-content"><a href='/en/story/2025/02/1159811'><img src="https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Embargoed/04-02-2025-UNFPA-Syria.jpg/image100x100cropped.jpg" alt="Medical workers perform an emergency operation at the Idlib Maternity Hospital in Syria. " title="Medical workers perform an emergency operation at the Idlib Maternity Hospital in Syria. " loading="lazy" width="100" height="100" /> </a></span></div> <div class="views-field views-field-title"><h3 class="field-content"> <a href="/en/story/2025/02/1159811" hreflang="en">Explainer: How family planning saves lives</a></h3></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="featured-bottom"> <aside class="container clearfix" role="complementary"> <section class="region region-featured-bottom-first"> <div class="views-element-container block block-views block-views-block-content-fields-block-news-tracker" id="block-views-block-content-fields-block-news-tracker"> <h2 class="block-title block__title"> News Tracker: Past Stories on This Issue </h2> <div class="block-content block__content"> <div> <div class="view view-content-fields view-id-content_fields view-display-id-block_news_tracker js-view-dom-id-76eafb86df7745603d289e81799fdf8341404bd3b3b1768f8ac64140da94d9c5"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="views-row"> <div class="views-field views-field-field-news-story-photo"><div class="field-content"><a href='/en/story/2024/12/1158461'><img src="https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Libraries/Production%20Library/181224_Colombia_Child_Marriage1.jpg/image350x235cropped.jpg" alt="Colombian activists urge the Senate to eliminate child marriage." title="Colombian activists urge the Senate to eliminate child marriage." loading="lazy" width="350" height="235" /> </a></div></div> <div class="views-field views-field-title"><h3 class="field-content"> <a href="/en/story/2024/12/1158461" hreflang="en">Major step forward for child protection in Colombia, as politicians ban underage marriage</a></h3></div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-news-date"><div class="field-content"><time datetime="2024-12-31T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">31 December 2024</time> </div></div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-news-topics"><div class="field-content"><a href="/en/news/topic/human-rights" hreflang="en">Human Rights</a></div></div> <div class="views-field views-field-field-news-story-lead"><div class="field-content"><p><span lang="EN-GB">The decision by members of congress in Colombia to abolish a law allowing marriages from the age of 14 – with parental consent – has been applauded by UN agencies. </span></p> </div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </aside> </div> <footer id="footer" class="site-footer"> <div class="site-footer__top clearfix bg-light pt-l pt-lg-xl pb-m pb-sm-0 pb-lg-l"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm-6"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-lg-6"> <section class="region region-footer-first"> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-resources-menu" id="block-resources" class="border-bottom border-un-absolute-black-25 mb-m mb-sm-0 pb-sm-m block block-menu navigation menu--resources"> <h2 id="block-resources-menu" class="block-title"> Resources <button class="btn btn-collapse float-end d-lg-none border-0 rounded-0 p-0 collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#block-resources-content" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="block-resources-content"> <i class="icon icon-show fa-regular fa-square-plus fs-md"></i> <i class="icon icon-collapse fa-regular fa-square-minus fs-md"></i> <span class="visually-hidden"> Button collapse </span> </button> </h2> <div id="block-resources-content" class="collapse d-lg-block block-content"> <ul class="clearfix nav navbar-nav"> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/en/content/navigate-news" class="nav-link nav-link--en-content-navigate-news d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" title="Navigate the News">Navigate the News</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/en/content/un-system-links" class="nav-link nav-link--en-content-un-system-links d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" title="Information for Broadcasters">Information for Broadcasters</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="/en/content/un-system-links" title="UN System Links" class="nav-link nav-link--en-content-un-system-links d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">UN System Links</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.un.org/en/media/accreditation/alert.shtml" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwunorg-en-media-accreditation-alertshtml d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" title="Media Alert">Media Alert</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://journal.un.org/" class="nav-link nav-link-https--journalunorg- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" title="UN Journal">UN Journal</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.un.org/press/en/content/meetings-coverage/" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwunorg-press-en-content-meetings-coverage- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" title="Meetings Coverage">Meetings Coverage</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.unmultimedia.org/avlibrary/" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwunmultimediaorg-avlibrary- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" title="Audiovisual Library">Audiovisual Library</a> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> </section> </div> <div class="col-lg-6"> <section class="region region-footer-second"> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-secretarygeneral-menu" id="block-secretarygeneral" class="border-bottom border-un-absolute-black-25 mb-m mb-sm-0 pb-sm-m block block-menu navigation menu--secretary-general"> <h2 id="block-secretarygeneral-menu" class="block-title"> Secretary-General <button class="btn btn-collapse float-end d-lg-none border-0 rounded-0 p-0 collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#block-secretarygeneral-content" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="block-secretarygeneral-content"> <i class="icon icon-show fa-regular fa-square-plus fs-md"></i> <i class="icon icon-collapse fa-regular fa-square-minus fs-md"></i> <span class="visually-hidden"> Button collapse </span> </button> </h2> <div id="block-secretarygeneral-content" class="collapse d-lg-block block-content"> <ul class="clearfix nav navbar-nav"> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/secretary-generals-speeches" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwunorg-sg-en-content-sg-secretary-generals-speeches d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" title="All Statements">All Statements</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/travels" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwunorg-sg-en-content-travels d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" title="Official Travels">Official Travels</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/press-encounters" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwunorg-sg-en-content-sg-press-encounters d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" title="Press Encounters">Press Encounters</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://twitter.com/antonioguterres?lang=en" class="nav-link nav-link-https--twittercom-antonioguterreslangen d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" title="SG Twitter">SG Twitter</a> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> </section> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-lg-6"> <section class="region region-footer-third"> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-spokespersonsoffice-menu" id="block-spokespersonsoffice" class="border-bottom border-un-absolute-black-25 mb-m mb-sm-0 pb-sm-m block block-menu navigation menu--spokesperson-s-office"> <h2 id="block-spokespersonsoffice-menu" class="block-title"> Spokesperson's Office <button class="btn btn-collapse float-end d-lg-none border-0 rounded-0 p-0 collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#block-spokespersonsoffice-content" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="block-spokespersonsoffice-content"> <i class="icon icon-show fa-regular fa-square-plus fs-md"></i> <i class="icon icon-collapse fa-regular fa-square-minus fs-md"></i> <span class="visually-hidden"> Button collapse </span> </button> </h2> <div id="block-spokespersonsoffice-content" class="collapse d-lg-block block-content"> <ul class="clearfix nav navbar-nav"> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.un.org/sg/en/spokesperson" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwunorg-sg-en-spokesperson d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" title="Latest Statements">Latest Statements</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/ossg/noon-briefing-highlight" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwunorg-sg-en-content-ossg-noon-briefing-highlight d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" title="Briefing Highlights">Briefing Highlights</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.un.org/press/en/content/noon-briefings" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwunorg-press-en-content-noon-briefings d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" title="Briefing Transcripts">Briefing Transcripts</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/notes-correspondents" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwunorg-sg-en-content-sg-notes-correspondents d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" title="Notes to Correspondents">Notes to Correspondents</a> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> </section> </div> <div class="col-lg-6"> <section class="region region-footer-fourth"> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-findus-menu" id="block-findus" class="border-bottom border-un-absolute-black-25 mb-m mb-sm-0 pb-sm-m block block-menu navigation menu--find-us"> <h2 id="block-findus-menu" class="block-title"> Find Us <button class="btn btn-collapse float-end d-lg-none border-0 rounded-0 p-0 collapsed" type="button" data-bs-toggle="collapse" data-bs-target="#block-findus-content" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="block-findus-content"> <i class="icon icon-show fa-regular fa-square-plus fs-md"></i> <i class="icon icon-collapse fa-regular fa-square-minus fs-md"></i> <span class="visually-hidden"> Button collapse </span> </button> </h2> <div id="block-findus-content" class="collapse d-lg-block block-content"> <ul class="clearfix nav navbar-nav"> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://news.un.org/en/content/un-news-go" class="nav-link nav-link-https--newsunorg-en-content-un-news-go d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" title="UN News App">UN News App</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/UN.News.Centre" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwfacebookcom-unnewscentre d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" title="Facebook">Facebook</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://twitter.com/UN_News_Centre" class="nav-link nav-link-https--twittercom-un-news-centre d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" title="Twitter">Twitter</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/unitednations" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwyoutubecom-user-unitednations d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" title="YouTube">YouTube</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://news.un.org/en/rss-feeds" class="nav-link nav-link-https--newsunorg-en-rss-feeds d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between" title="RSS">RSS</a> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="site-footer__bottom text-bg-dark py-l border-top border-4 border-un-blue"> <div class="container"> <section class="region region-footer-bottom-first"> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-footerlinks-menu" id="block-footerlinks" class="block block-menu navigation menu--copyright-footer-links"> <h2 class="visually-hidden block-title" id="block-footerlinks-menu"> Footer menu </h2> <div class="block-content"> <ul class="clearfix nav navbar-nav"> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.un.org/en/site-index" title="A-Z Site Index" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwunorg-en-site-index d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">A-Z Site Index</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.un.org/en/about-us/copyright" title="Copyright" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwunorg-en-about-us-copyright d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Copyright</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.un.org/en/about-us/frequently-asked-questions" title="FAQ" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwunorg-en-about-us-frequently-asked-questions d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">FAQ</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.un.org/en/about-us/fraud-alert" title="Fraud Alert" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwunorg-en-about-us-fraud-alert d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Fraud Alert</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.un.org/en/about-us/privacy-notice" title="Privacy Notice" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwunorg-en-about-us-privacy-notice d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Privacy Notice</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.un.org/en/about-us/terms-of-use" title="Terms of Use" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwunorg-en-about-us-terms-of-use d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Terms of Use</a> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> </section> <hr class="border-light my-l"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-sm"> <section class="region region-footer-bottom-second"> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-un-base-theme-social-media-links-menu" id="block-un-base-theme-social-media-links" class="block block-menu navigation menu--social-media-links"> <h2 class="visually-hidden block-title" id="block-un-base-theme-social-media-links-menu"> Social Media Links </h2> <div class="block-content"> <ul class="clearfix nav navbar-nav"> <li aria-label="Facebook" class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/UN.News.Centre/" title="Facebook" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwfacebookcom-unnewscentre- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between"><i class="fa-brands fa-facebook-square" aria-hidden="true"></i></a> </li> <li aria-label="Twitter" class="nav-item"> <a href="https://twitter.com/un_news_centre" title="Twitter" class="nav-link nav-link-https--twittercom-un-news-centre d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between"><i class="fa-brands fa-twitter" aria-hidden="true"></i></a> </li> <li aria-label="YouTube" class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/unitednations/" title="YouTube" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwyoutubecom-user-unitednations- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between"><i class="fa-brands fa-youtube" aria-hidden="true"></i></a> </li> <li aria-label="Flickr" class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/un_photo/" title="Flickr" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwflickrcom-photos-un-photo- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between"><i class="fa-brands fa-flickr" aria-hidden="true"></i></a> </li> <li aria-label="Instagram" class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/unitednations/" title="Instagram" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwinstagramcom-unitednations- d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between"><i class="fa-brands fa-instagram" aria-hidden="true"></i></a> </li> <li aria-label="Soundcloud" class="nav-item"> <a href="https://soundcloud.com/unradio" title="Soundcloud" class="nav-link nav-link-https--soundcloudcom-unradio d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between"><i class="fa-brands fa-soundcloud" aria-hidden="true"></i></a> </li> <li aria-label="Podcast" class="nav-item"> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/un-news/id304114245?mt=2&app=podcast" title="Podcast" class="nav-link nav-link-https--podcastsapplecom-us-podcast-un-news-id304114245mt2apppodcast d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between"><i class="fa-solid fa-podcast" aria-hidden="true"></i></a> </li> <li aria-label="UN Social Media" class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.un.org/en/get-involved/social-media" title="UN Social Media" class="nav-link nav-link-https--wwwunorg-en-get-involved-social-media d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between"><i class="fa-solid fa-circle-plus" aria-hidden="true"></i></a> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> </section> </div> <div class="col-sm-auto mt-l mt-sm-0"> <section class="region region-footer-bottom-third"> <nav role="navigation" aria-labelledby="block-un-base-theme-footer-buttons-menu" id="block-un-base-theme-footer-buttons" class="block block-menu navigation menu--footer-buttons"> <h2 class="visually-hidden block-title" id="block-un-base-theme-footer-buttons-menu"> Footer buttons </h2> <div class="block-content"> <ul class="clearfix nav navbar-nav"> <li class="nav-item"> <a href="https://www.un.org/en/about-us/how-to-donate-to-the-un-system" class="btn btn-secondary nav-link nav-link-https--wwwunorg-en-about-us-how-to-donate-to-the-un-system d-flex gap-s align-items-center justify-content-between">Donate</a> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> </footer> </div> </div> <div class="minimal-share-panel"> <p class="minimal-share"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/02/1160241" title="Share this via Facebook" class="facebook" data-ms="facebook">Facebook</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Explainer: 5 common myths about child marriage&url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/02/1160241" title="Share this via Twitter" class="twitter" data-ms="twitter">Twitter</a> <a href="" title="Share this via Print" class="print" data-ms="print">Print</a> <a href="mailto:?subject=Explainer: 5 common myths about child marriage&body=https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/02/1160241" title="Share this via Email" class="email" data-ms="email">Email</a> </p> </div> </div> <script>window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; window.dataLayer.push({"drupalLanguage":"en","drupalCountry":"US","siteName":"UN News","entityCreated":"1740232802","entityLangcode":"en","entityType":"node","entityBundle":"news_story","entityId":"1160241","entityTitle":"Explainer: 5 common myths about child marriage","news_date":"2025-02-22","focus_page":"","region":"Global","tags":"explainer, child marriage","topic":"Health","added_topics":"","campaign_id":"","userUid":0});</script> <script src="/en/sites/news.un.org.en/files/js/js_rQzGatc_sWKeXHF0YNa3OkExGuq45GUu5Mz0ueSXr60.js?scope=footer&delta=0&language=en&theme=un_base_theme&include=eJxdz1EOgzAIANALVfuxAzXUYmXSYlp07varRpdsP4QHBIIX0aoFFlf1zVgtSO0LJlE0w4yBVIpT8NX67-TBfiySFXMwgxS0oawLcK-UsAs0jiaAAsMbi_U4wUZSqsFdmfJ8D180USQytq3Rxhb-3cMT9t9iMokyJWBXJ2jXL3WnzJofzkNFG1k8cPNJpxOmu9gd31KOR5NpQ5flZe_kA3DNa3Q"></script> <script src="https://unpkg.com/aos@2.3.1/dist/aos.js"></script> <script src="/en/sites/news.un.org.en/files/js/js_L8RAgZA-aehkSimkHsAtlfeAssgd-O7wz4kS5N4sYr4.js?scope=footer&delta=2&language=en&theme=un_base_theme&include=eJxdz1EOgzAIANALVfuxAzXUYmXSYlp07varRpdsP4QHBIIX0aoFFlf1zVgtSO0LJlE0w4yBVIpT8NX67-TBfiySFXMwgxS0oawLcK-UsAs0jiaAAsMbi_U4wUZSqsFdmfJ8D180USQytq3Rxhb-3cMT9t9iMokyJWBXJ2jXL3WnzJofzkNFG1k8cPNJpxOmu9gd31KOR5NpQ5flZe_kA3DNa3Q"></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Explainer: 5 common myths about child marriage | UN News