0475 IGCSE GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

Individual Report - Component 2

Centre Name SVKM International School

Centre Number IN688

Candidate Number 0030

Candidate Name Yana Kunal Sharma

List of files in this submission 2

GP Topic area Child marriage and its effects

Research Question The Impact of Child Marriage On Youth

Introduction

Child marriage was the practice of marrying a girl child between the ages of 8-10 or
before the girl hit her puberty. the girls were married to older and mature men and
had to work in their husbands' house

Causes
The phenomenon of Child Marriage is multi-causal and multi-dimensional with both
economic and socio-cultural factors playing a crucial role in the duration of Child
Marriage in India. Poverty drives families to marry daughters off early, to reduce
financial burden and avoid greater dowries — 40% of girls from the poorest
households marry before age 18, and 8% from wealthier ones. Ignorance is not also
without play, educated families tend to oppose the practice more than the
uneducated — 48% of girls married before 18 had no education. Children of married
couples are also burdened with societal and sexual expectations that come from
cultural practices and gender inequality, which also excuse child marriage.

Consequences
Child marriage in India is devastating to every girl. It frequently cuts short their
education, bending them into dependents of their husbands and cementing poverty.
Early pregnancies pose serious health risks; girls married before 15 are almost 50%
more likely to face physical or sexual intimate partner violence. Also, there is a high
prevalence of domestic abuse, with 70% of the child brides being abused. These
little girls are robbed of their childhood, self-worth, dreams and aspirations, and
growing up to be emotionally stunted, with their whole lives ahead of them being
stripped from them.

Global Perspective
Child marriage is a well-established international problem, especially common in
states with socioeconomic problems. In India, a developing nation, the problem is
still widespread despite laws banning the practice. As per UNICEF (2023), an
estimated 23% of Indian girls marry before the age of 18, and the problem is
especially severe in states such as West Bengal and Bihar where percentages are
over 40%. Though there are legal frameworks, cultural beliefs, gender disparity, and
poverty support the perpetuation of the unwanted practice. On the positive front, civil
society and local panchayats stopped more than 73,000 child marriages in 17 states
in 2023–24 (Onmanorama, 2024), illustrating the importance of grassroots action
and community empowerment.On the other hand, **Niger** is one of the poorest
countries in the world and has the second-highest rate of child marriage in the world.
More than 76% of girls are married off before the age of 18 because of extreme
poverty, limited education, and deeply rooted gender norms. Poor infrastructure and
political instability despite international aid programs hinder long-term
development.On the contrary, in a well-developed country like **Sweden**, child
marriage does not occur nearly at all. The nation has robust child protection
mechanisms and stringent laws. Education, gender equality, and social welfare are
significant in safeguarding children's rights.Globally, the gap between nations
indicates that evidence-based contextual approaches are necessary—legal changes
alone are not enough. Awareness, education, and community mobilization remain
the key tools for preventing child marriage in the world.

National perspective
Child marriage is still a major issue in India, perpetuated mostly by socio-economic
need and culture, though illegally. In 2023, UNICEF indicated that more than 41% of
girls in West Bengal are married off before the age of 18, one of the highest in the
nation. This is complemented by events like in Rajasthan, where wholesale child
marriages were conducted during the Akshaya Tritiya festival in 2023, despite
government campaigns (The Hindu, 2023). These indicate that while there are laws,
enforcement is weak. Poverty, illiteracy, and entrenched cultural practices are
contributory factors to the cycle of child marriage. Though there has been some
progress, such as in community-based interventions, India's battle against child
marriage is far from over and requires more vigorous and sustained effort at the
community level

Personal Perspective
child marriage is a cause close to my heart, as my great-grandmother got married at
8 years of age. She was forced to leave school and perform domestic work when
she should have been learning and playing. She never forgave the trauma and
deprivation of having missed education and childhood. Her experience made me see
the reality of the suffering so much suffering is still being endured by so many girls in
some parts of India today.Not only do we learn about the child marriage law in my
school S.V.K.M., but we are also motivated to speak our mind and conduct
awareness drives. We conduct street plays, poster-making competition, and
seminars for student as well as public awareness. We learn about the emotional,
mental, and social effects of child marriage through them.My school's emphasis on
values and social responsibility has made me a girls' rights activist. I think that every
girl deserves to study, dream, and grow up without the weight of child marriage. My
great-grandmother's story makes me want to be part of the solution and see the next
generation of girls live without fear and freely.

Bibliography

Testbook.com /ias-preparation/child marriage - in - India