Identifying the policies that work best against child marriage: Empowerment of girls is the key
Despite significant progress against child marriage, it remains a huge challenge. Last year 320 lakh girls under 18 were married according to UNICEF estimates.
The Supreme Court’s landmark ruling criminalising sex with a minor even within marriage forms part of a solid legal framework. But global experience shows that laws alone are not enough to entirely change practices and mores. New economic analysis can help speed progress.
The negative consequences of child marriage include making girls less healthy and less educated, as well as being linked to more domestic violence. The Centre and state governments have made progress by focusing on a range of interventions.