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Child in West and Central At a Glance 2 | IN WEST AND 2018 Acknowledgments development of thisdevelopment document. for leadership overall provided management UNFPA this to document. UNICEF and inputs senior substantial provided HQcolleagues and UNCEF regional UNFPASeveral and Office. Regional Africa Central and West Ramatou Cairn UNICEF and Verhulst, Toure Office; Regional Philipose, Africa Anandita are: UNFPA Central and West authors The Africa. Central and West covering offices regional UNFPA the by UNICEF and developed This was publication the issue of child marriage in West and Central Africa. resource for stakeholders working on, or researching, to Accelerate Action to End Child Marriage as a the framework of the Global UNFPA-UNICEF Programme marriage on the continent. It has been produced within support the (AU) work on ending child Marriage in the region. It is been also developed to This was the first-ever High Level Event Childon West and Central Africa held in in 2017. successful High Level Meeting on Child Marriage in This brochure has been developed following the data and analysis of child marriage in the region. recent provides brochure This . and adolescents of and , and on the overall development education,on adverse effects health, including sexual the biggest challenges in the region and has enormous Child marriage in West and Central Africa is one of

3 | CHILD MARRIAGE IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA 4 | CHILD MARRIAGE IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA UNICEF is the custodian agency for SDG 5.3.1. SDG for agency custodian is the 2 UNICEF countries. 24 covers WCARO UNICEF while DRC) of exception the (with countries these of 23 covers UNFPA WCARO https://www.unicef.org/wca/where-we-work provided): be to countries of list (full in WCA countries 24 1 Covers 2018 January Section, Analytics and Data UNICEF by Generated 2005-2017. (MICS), Surveys Country Multi-Indicator and (DHS) Surveys Health and Demographic Source: Africa Central and West 18, age by and 15 age by union in or married were who years to24 20 aged women of Percentage 100 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 0

Cabo Verde Married atorafterage15butbefore age18 Married before ageof15 Scale of child marriage highest prevalence in the , has 4.1 million has world, in child the brides. prevalence highest , region. in all child of the the brides has which 40percent for million live 22 in child , brides estimated accounts which An child of brides. number highest the Nigeria has region, in the percent is 41 Africa Central and in West marriage child of prevalence The prevalence rates over 25 percent. over rates prevalence all having Niger and African , Central with region, the for at high percent 14 very is also 15 years of age the below marriage child of prevalence The at 67 Chad and percent. percent 68 with Republic African Central by followed percent, at 76 world in the marriage child of prevalence highest the has Niger 50 percent. over have aprevalence which of all six world, in the levels prevalence marriage child highest the with countries ten the of six to is home region The countries. within and between variations huge However, 18. of age this the before married -were million 60 nearly

Guinea- ¹ - women young and girls ten of four out that , meaning

Côte d’Ivoire

Congo

Equatorial

The Gambia

Cameroon ² Senegal

Sao Tome and Principe country populous most the As

Liberia

Mauritania

Democratic

Sierra Leone

Nigeria

Guinea

Mali

Burkina Faso

Chad

Central African Republic

Niger

west and Central Africa Generated by UNICEF Data and Analytics Section, January 2018 January Section, Analytics and Data UNICEF by Generated 2005-2017. (MICS), Surveys Country Multi-Indicator and (DHS) Surveys Health and Demographic Source: Africa Central and West in childhood in married women and girls of Number Senegal Guinea Côte d'Ivoire Ghana Chad Niger Congo the of Republic Democratic Nigeria Disparities in levels of child marriage of levels in Disparities richest quintile. richest in the those of percent 10 to in compared childhood married quintile were poorest in the women young of percent 80 over disparities in Nigeria, marked where particularly with region, Africa Central and West inin the all countries richest the and poorest the disparities between are There quintile. wealth richest the to quintile compared wealth poorest the those among common more times three is over Child marriage areas. urban to compared as areas in rural common as twice than is more child marriage where Africa, in Central and West true globally. This holds child with marriage associated strongly more are living and in arural poverty that show data and Research 1.0 million million 1.6 million 1.9 million 2.1 million 2.3 million 2.4 million 2.6 million 2.6 million 2.8 million 4.1 million 8.9 22 million West and Central Africa Central and West Principe Tome and Sao Cabo Verde Gabon Guinea-Bissau Gambia Congo Togo Benin 59 million 20,000 30,000 100,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 400,000 500,000 500,000 600,000 800,000 900,000

5 | CHILD MARRIAGE IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA 6 | CHILD MARRIAGE IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA Generated by UNICEF Data and Analytics Section, January 2018 January Section, Analytics and Data UNICEF by Generated 2005-2017. (MICS), Surveys Country Multi-Indicator and (DHS) Surveys Health and Demographic Source: Africa Central and West quintile, wealth by 18, age before union in or married first were who years to24 20 aged women of Percentage 2018 January Section, Analytics and Data UNICEF by Generated 2005-2017. (MICS), Surveys Country Multi-Indicator and (DHS) Surveys Health and Demographic Source: Africa Central and West wealth, by and residence by 18, age before union in or married first were who years to24 20 aged women of Percentage 100 100 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 80 90 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 80 90 0 0 Total

Niger 41 Poorest

Nigeria

Guinea Rural 53 Residence

Second Mali Urban 25 Burkina Faso

Senegal Middle Sierra Leone Poorest 67

Côte d’Ivoire Second 56 Liberia Wealth Quintile Fourth Middle

Benin 45

The Gambia Fourth 34

Richest Ghana Richest 19

Togo Trends and projections and Trends 14.8 million 2050. by 14.8 child brides will still have region the doubled, are rates if decline Even will 17.5 be there continue, million then 2050. by child brides in million20.8 prevalence declines 2050. by If the child brides be to is projected there persist, prevalence if current that show Projections region. in the growing the given grow to is child projected of brides however, number the region, in the in prevalence decrease gradual the Despite declines. slow with coupled region in the child marriage of prevalence highest the of some have which Faso Burkina and Republic African Chad, Central are concern particular Of declines). of levels of (in order declines slowest the of some Tome Sao and Verde seen have Principe and Faso, Burkina Republic, African Chad, Central as such while countries region, in in the child declines marriage greatest the seen Togo and Gambia,Ghana Gabon, have The Guinea-Bissau, as such Countries within and countries. across prevalence in decrease in variation the isHowever, enormous there since 1990. around region in the prevalence marriage in decline child steady but aslow been has there Overall,

7 | CHILD MARRIAGE IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA 8 | CHILD MARRIAGE IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA by age cohort, West and Central African countries with the least decline least the with countries African Central and West cohort, age by 18, age by union in or married were who to49 20 years aged women of Percentage decline greatest the with countries African Central and West cohort, age by 18, age by union in or married were who to49 20 years aged women of Percentage Generated by UNICEF Data and Analytics Section, January 2018 January Section, Analytics and Data UNICEF by Generated 2005-2017. (MICS), Surveys Country Multi-Indicator and (DHS) Surveys Health and Demographic Source: 2018 January Section, Analytics and Data UNICEF by Generated 2005-2017. (MICS), Surveys Country Multi-Indicator and (DHS) Surveys Health and Demographic Source: 100 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 80 90 100 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 80 90 0 Burkina Faso(AARR=0.1%) Cabo Verde (AARR=1.0%) 45-49 years 45-49 years Ghana (AARR=2.1%) Guinea-Bissau (AARR=2.8%) 40-44 years 40-44 years 35-39 years 35-39 years Nigeria (AARR=0.1%) Chad (AARR=0.1%) Togo (AARR=2.0%) The Gambia(AARR=2.6%) 30-34 years 30-34 years 25-29 years Mauritania (AARR=0.1%) Central African Republic(AARR=0.9%) 25-29 years Gabon (AARR=2.2%) 20-24 years 20-24 years Prevalence and burden of child marriage, observed and projected, West and Central Africa Central and West projected, and observed marriage, child of burden and Prevalence Generated by UNICEF Data and Analytics Section, January 2018 January Section, Analytics and Data UNICEF by Generated 2005-2017. (MICS), Surveys Country Multi-Indicator and (DHS) Surveys Health and Demographic Source: 100 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 80 90 0 were marriedorinunionbefore age18 Number ofwomenaged20-24 who 4,7m 1990 1995 potential for a growing number of child brides in the region. region. in child the of brides number agrowing for potential the subsequently and population growing into account the taking when especially region, in the childend marriage to interventions in high-impact up investments scaling rapidly of importance and urgency highlight the projections Trend analysis and countries. between differences the emphasizing while also affected, most the and region in the child of marriage scale the shows clearly Africa in Central and West child on marriage data The progress. of levels current the double than more to will need region the child of brides, number the decrease to inThus, order 2000 2005 2010 to bemarriedorinunionbefore age18if: Number ofwomenaged20-24 expected 8,6m 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 Progress isaccelerated (2x) Observed declineObserved continues Current level persists 2045 2050 14,8m 17,5m 20,8m

9 | CHILD MARRIAGE IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA 10 | CHILD MARRIAGE IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA at regional are: andnational levels based responses. In particular, key actions that are needed evidence- and multi-sectoral integrated, large-scale, through demonstrate the importance of addressing child marriage The analysis of the data, trends and projections clearly ACTION TOWARDS AND MARRIAGE POLICY CHILD ENDING of young people, particularly young girls Invest in improving the education and health continental priority and regional Ensure child marriage is anational, and sexual and reproductive health services, can lead to significant to lead can services, health reproductive and sexual and education sexuality comprehensive including through people, all young of needs health reproductive and sexual addressing that shows also Research child to marriage. alternative apositive represents Education 2018. in in February held was Summit that Education during the on reinforced further this and was marriage of in age delays with associated is strongly level, secondary at the particularly education, girls’ as child marriage prevent to way is apowerful Education 2017. in in Dakar October held was that Childon Marriage Meeting Level High first-ever the from Document Outcome Dakar in the included also are actions These child marriage. end to efforts accelerate and progress monitor to countries by used be to need mechanisms accountability national level and regional global, Existing 2063. (SDGs) Goals AU Agenda the and Development in Sustainable line child the with end marriage to levels continental and at regional efforts their strengthen should ECOWAS ECCAS and Union, African the as such bodies regional and Continental marriage. child address to legislation and plans action costed strategies, national of implementation and development in the invest should they efforts these of part As child combat marriage. to environment policy and in an put enabling place legal should Governments

Addressing population dynamics population Addressing Scale up evidence-based that models work inform programmes and policies relating to adolescent girls. adolescent to relating policies and programmes inform to data using and robust generating and rights; girls’ adolescent promote and protect policies and girls; laws ensuring adolescent justice) to protection, (education, health, services deliver that systems the girls; strengthening adolescent towards attitudes positive in demonstrating households supporting child marriage; at girls risk of of building skillschild marriage: knowledge the and end to strategies using by proven girls of lives five the transform to actions into tangible civil is society, commitments turning and governments with in partnership Programme, Global The Africa. including in Central four and countries, West selected 12 in union already in or at girls risk child of marriage adolescent targets and this to effort, contributes Child End to Marriage Action Accelerate to UNFPA-UNICEF Programme The Global forrequirements appropriate to child prevent systems marriage. sets and continent the across implementation for framework a creates Ending Position on AU Child Common Marriage The . unintended and child marriage reduce to in order people young for services and information health reproductive and sexual to access ensuring as well girls, –for as education secondary –particularly in education investing quality of importance the This underscores pregnancies. in unintended reductions account the impact of child marriage and adolescent . pregnancy. adolescent and child of marriage impact account the into take must dividend demographic and growth economic Similarly, achieve to policies pregnancy. and plans action adolescent of high and levels child aim marriage that address to programmes and plans this in sectoral integrate and region in the demographics and dynamics population the address to action for This calls prevalence. in childdeclines marriage gains through any potential made positive off-setting brides, child of number alarger will to lead region in the population fast-growing the that shows analysis and clearly data Projection

11 | CHILD MARRIAGE IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA “The continent cannot meet its ambitious goals under Agenda 2063 while it limits a dynamic segment of its society, which women represent, from realizing its full potential. Investing in women and girls and their integration into the labor market, alongside delayed marriage and child bearing, and expanded access to education for girls, planning, and sexual and reproductive health rights, have been attributed as the driving forces behind the economic successes of the Asian tigers.”

AU Agenda 2063 Framework Document: The Africa We Want

UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND CHILDREN'S FUND West and Central Africa West and Central Africa Regional Office Regional Office

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