UNICEF: child marriage stole 23 million childhood boys

UNICEF: child marriage stole 23 million childhood boys

Jun 09 2019

ARK News: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has estimated that 115 million boys worldwide have been married as children, 23 million of them before the age of 15.

An in-depth study conducted by the organization in 82 countries found that the total estimated number of child marriages was 765 million, where male marriage is prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, South and East Asia and the Pacific.

Data confirm that 28 percent of males in the Central African Republic married when they were children, that this country ranking the first rank in child marriage, while Nicaragua ranked the second with 19 percent and Madagascar with 13 percent.

UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said , that "marriage ropes childhood and forced the bride and children to assume responsibilities may not be adults are ready for them," warning that "early marriage leads to early paternity, and comes with additional pressure to provide for the needs of the family, thereby reducing the chances of education and work."

There is little research on child marriage among boys, while the prevalence, causes, and impact of child marriage among girls were studied widely.

Source: "United Nations News"

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