“I’ve Never Experienced Happiness”: Child Marriage in Malawi

With this report, Human Rights Watch investigates child marriage in Malawi. It describes factors contributing to child marriage, the severe consequences of child marriage, the risks that girls face when they resist these marriages, and the abuses they frequently face in marriage. It also examines the absence of protection for victims of child marriage and the many obstacles they face in attempting to obtain redress; as well as shortcomings in existing programs to combat child marriage.

Although the Malawi government has adopted many laws to improve child and girl security, they have not been successful. Human Rights Watch found that Malawi’s government has failed to enforce existing legal protections against child marriage, and to develop and implement a comprehensive national child marriage plan.

Human Rights Watch concludes this report with a series of recommendations for several officials and ministries of Malawi government.