Kuwait has raised the minimum marriage age to 18 amid high rates of child marriage, particularly in conflict zones in the Middle East. Despite legal reforms, cultural norms, economic factors, and legal loopholes continue to challenge efforts to protect children. Organizations work to eliminate child marriage, emphasizing its severe impacts on girls’ rights and well-being.
In response to the alarming rates of child marriage, Kuwait has elevated the minimum age of marriage to 18, aligning with international conventions aimed at protecting children’s rights. The country registered 1,145 underage marriages in 2024, comprised of 1,079 girls and 66 boys. This legislative change is part of a broader initiative to combat child marriage across the Arab region, which remains a pervasive issue, especially in conflict-affected areas.
Recent amendments to Kuwait’s Personal Status Laws reflect the country’s commitment to international standards, which classify child marriage as a harmful practice that deepens gender inequality. Hadeel Qazzaz, a representative from Oxfam, emphasizes that such marriages severely impact girls, limiting their educational and employment opportunities and subjecting them to violence. The repercussions of child marriage extend beyond individual lives, influencing familial and societal dynamics.
Research from Human Rights Watch indicates that underage brides frequently endure domestic violence and limited access to reproductive health services. UN agencies reported that approximately 70% of married girls aged 15 to 19 face various forms of violence from their husbands, with complications from early pregnancies being a leading cause of death among adolescent girls in developing nations.
The economic toll of child marriage is significant; a 2020 International Monetary Fund study suggested that eradicating child marriage could enhance economic growth in emerging nations by over 1%. Yet, the practice persists throughout the Middle East and North Africa, with 40 million child brides in the region. Alarmingly, one in five girls marry before the age of 18, and the rates are exacerbated by ongoing conflicts and societal norms.
The high rates of child marriage in Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, and Morocco illustrate the entrenched nature of this issue. Despite the existence of legal frameworks setting a minimum marriage age of 18, exceptions based on consent often undermine these laws. Recent amendments in Iraq raise concerns as they could permit marriages for girls as young as nine, highlighting the fragmented legal landscape that exacerbates child marriage risks.
Displacement and conflict heighten vulnerabilities for girls, particularly in MENA areas like Gaza and Yemen, where cultural norms coupled with economic strain promote early marriage. The ongoing humanitarian crises continue to aggravate these conditions, with Gaza enduring significant hardships following recent conflicts. The economic pressures have led families to marry off daughters to secure their futures amidst instability.
In Yemen, the lack of a legal minimum marriage age, combined with the ongoing civil war, has stalled protective efforts against child marriage. With over 21 million individuals needing humanitarian assistance due to displacement caused by the conflict, early marriages have surged as families cope with dire economic situations.
Similarly, the civil strife in Sudan has led to alarming rates of child marriage, already at 21% among girls aged 15 to 19 before the war intensified. The escalating conflict has displaced millions, which further threatens opportunities for women and girls in the region, propelling the prevalence of child marriage as a survival strategy.
As for Syria, the rates of child marriage have increased dramatically since the onset of the civil war. Studies show that 41% of girls are now married before 18, a significant rise fueled by economic and protective factors, particularly among refugees in neighboring countries. Persistent harsh living conditions in refugee camps have made child marriage a more common coping mechanism.
National and international efforts continue to address child marriage. Organizations such as Oxfam are actively involved in advocacy and awareness campaigns to prevent this form of gender-based violence, often collaborating with local partners to challenge and change social and legal practices. Oxfam’s initiatives in Yemen focus on empowering youth and promoting their rights, aiming to raise awareness about the importance of choosing the timing and nature of marriages.
Kuwait’s recent legislative action to establish a minimum marriage age of 18 demonstrates a positive step towards combating child marriage in the Arab world. However, significant challenges remain as conflict and poverty exacerbate the vulnerability of girls, particularly in areas like Yemen, Iraq, and Syria. The interplay between legal frameworks, societal norms, and economic pressures continues to perpetuate this harmful practice. Ongoing advocacy from organizations like Oxfam is crucial in raising awareness and shifting cultural attitudes to protect women and girls from child marriage.
Original Source: www.arabnews.com
