Just Married, Just a child

Child Marriage in the Indo-Pacific Region

Plan International Australia has released a report entitled Just Married, Just a Child: Child Marriage in the Indo-Pacific Region.  The report was written by Mark Evenhuis, Plan International Australia (international content) and Jennifer Burn, Anti-Slavery Australia (Australian content).  Child marriage is a breech of the human rights of the child.  It is done without the child’s consent, it stops girls from being educated and increases adolescents girls risk of pregnancy, birth related illness and even death.  It is estimated that at least 14 million girls under the age of 18 are married every year.  The report outlines a number of recommendations for the Australian Government to address child marriage in Australia and overseas including through its overseas development aid and by advocating for a UN General Assembly resolution to end child marriage.

Download a copy of the report here.