Situational Analysis of Child Marriage in Haryana: Fact Finding Report

Post Date: Friday, April 14, 2017

Child marriage, defined as marriage before the age of 18, is a reality for both boys and girls, although girls are disproportionately the most affected. It is a human rights violation and has a negative impact on physical growth, health, mental and emotional development, and education opportunities.

The issue of child marriage is addressed in a number of international conventions and agreements. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) covers the right to protection from child marriage in article 16. The right to ‘free and full’ consent to marriage is recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Under Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), child marriage is linked to other rights; such as the right to freedom of expression, the right to protection from all forms of abuse, and the right to be protected from harmful traditional. Other international agreements related to child marriage are the Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages. The International Conference on Population and Development in 1994 also called on countries to eliminate child marriage.

Despite laws against child marriage in India, the practice remains widespread, in part because of persistent poverty and gender inequality.According to UNCIEF report “Improving Children’s Lives, Transforming the Future — 25 years of child rights in South Asia”, India has the second-highest number of child marriages.

To evaluate the situational analysis of child marriages and its legislations, a group of activist from HRLN conducted a fact-finding exercise in the state of Haryana between 12- 19th July 2016. The team travelled to Sonipat, Panipat, Jind, Sirsa and Hisar.

The fact finding report highlights the prevalence of child marriage and its causes and effects among the girl child in Haryana. The report also analyses the gaps and government failures to prevent child marriages in the state as well as in the country.  The report concludes that long-term and continuous processes are required in order to address the multitude of factors that lead to the prevalence of child marriages. It recommends a focus on empowerment and education of young girls; attitudinal changes within both families and communities; the development of resource centres; the development of the health system; co-operation by educational institutions and a robust legal framework.