Protecting the Girl Child: Using the law to end child, early and forced marriage and related human rights violations

Child marriage is a human rights violation, often following from and leading to further human rights violations. As detailed in the case studies of this report, it is a violent and abusive practice that stems from and sustains discrimination against women and girls. It not only excludes girls from decisions regarding the timing of marriage and the choice of spouse and is an abrupt and violent initiation into sexual relations, but also subjects them to other human rights violations such as female genital mutilation (FGM), forced feeding to fatten a girl up for marriage, domestic violence, trafficking, exploitation, curtailed education and other violations detailed in this report.

This report addresses the capacity of international and national law to end child, early, and forced marriage. It also provides information on how you can engage with your government to change laws and practices.