UNICEF lauds India for a sharp decline of 20 per cent in child marriages

India saw a sharp decline of 20 percent in child marriages in the last decade. The United Nations children's agency UNICEF said that as against 47 percent of the girls getting married before the age of 18, a decade ago, 27 percent girls are getting married, now.

The drop in India has contributed significantly to a global decline in child marriages. Overall, the proportion of girls who were married as children decreased by 15 percent in the last decade.

According to a statement issued by the UNICEF, 25 million child marriages were prevented globally in the decade of 2005-06 to 2015-16. The largest reduction was seen in South Asia with India being at the forefront.

The UNICEF stated, in South Asia, the number of girls marrying before the age of 18 has dropped by more than a third, from nearly 50 percent to 30 percent, in large part due to progress in India.The UN children's agency attributed increasing rates of girls’ education, proactive government investments in adolescent girls and strong public awareness about



the illegality of child marriage and the harm it causes are among the reasons for the decline.

The UNICEF says, 25 million child marriages were prevented globally in the decade of 2005-06 to 2015-16. The largest reduction was seen in South Asia with India being at the forefront. The UNICEF stated, in South Asia, the number of girls marrying before the age of 18 has dropped by more than a third, from nearly 50 per cent to 30 per cent, in large part due to progress in India.

The UN children's agency attributed the improvement to the increased rate of girls’ education, proactive government investments in adolescent girls, and strong public awareness about the illegality of child marriage and the harm it causes. 

Reacting to the report, UNICEF’s Principal Gender Advisor, Anju Malhotra, said each and every child marriage prevented gives another girl the chance to fulfil her potential and that's why any reduction is a welcome news. However, we still have a long way to go, Malhotra added.