Child Marriage - Heaven or Hell?

Child marriage was originated from the hindu traditions in the medieval times, when the sultans held the place of a monarch and upheld a unique sort of culture, alienating their own religion and showing intolerance to any other kind of religion.

Child marriage is believed to condemn young girls to a life of utter misery and constant pain. Young girls who should be in school, are married prematurely which snatches their age of innocence from them. They are exposed to premature pregnancies which increases the risks of many health problems. Young girls are tried mentally and physically by being forced to bourne children at such an early age.

Young girls are usually married to men much older than themselves. In this way, they are forced to face physical violation and also the mental traumas related with childbirth pain.

When researched the main causes of child marriages, it was found that these marriages usually take place in Africa or South Asia, where poverty rate is high. Parents marry off young girls for the sake of economy. Parents also tend to give the reason that early marriages tend to save their girls from corruptible love affairs and sexual advances.

Child marriage takes away the girl's right to freedom. This is because most girls are not even asked for consent, as parents believe that they are too young to distinguish between the right and the wrong. Lack of education is the main factor which leads to unethical child marriages. Neither the parents, nor the girls are educated enough to realize the tremendous risks of early marriage.

Over the years the gynaecology wards have reported many young deaths due to illegal abortion and lack of knowledge on safe sex. One of the most risky result of early child bearing is vaginal fistulae. This disease results in total loss of control over urinary and rectal functions, and if the girls do not receive proper treatment this disease might affect their socail lives. Many girls are divorced or abandoned or worse, become social outcasts.

The only way to diminish this prevalent form is to equip not only the girls but the boys and the families of girls and boys with knowledge and skills to ensure a better and a happy life. Awareness of the terrible outcomes of this form of marriage is necessary in Asian and African countries. Girls should be empowered by law to make their own decision where marriage is concerned and a proper education should be instilled in youngsters so that they can ensure a better future for themselves.