Action by Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies to prevent and respond to child marriage Case Study Report The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest volunteer-based humanitarian network. With our 190-member National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies worldwide, we are in every community reaching 160.7 million people annually through long-term services and development programmes, as well as 110 million people through disaster response and early recovery programmes. We act before, during and after disasters and health emergencies to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people. We do so with impartiality as to nationality, race, gender, religious beliefs, class and political opinions. Guided by Strategy 2020 – our collective plan of action to tackle the major humanitarian and development challenges of this decade – we are committed to saving lives and changing minds. Our strength lies in our volunteer network, our community-based expertise and our independence and neutrality. We work to improve humanitarian standards, as partners in development, and in response to disasters. We persuade decision-makers to act at all times in the interests of vulnerable people. The result: we enable healthy and safe communities, reduce vulnerabilities, strengthen resilience and foster a culture of peace around the world. © International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Geneva, 2019 Any part of this publication may be cited, copied, translated into other languages or adapted to meet local needs without prior permission from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, provided that the source is clearly stated. Chemin des Crêts 17 Petit-Saconnex 1209 Geneva, Switzerland Requests for commercial reproduction should be directed to the IFRC Telefax: +41 22 730 4200 Secretariat at [email protected]. E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.ifrc.org All photos used in this study are copyright of the IFRC unless otherwise indicated. No photos are intended to show specific girls or boys Case Study Report: Action by Red Cross and married as children. Red Crescent National Societies to Prevent and respond to Child Marriage Cover photo: Lesotho, Kenya and Nepal Follow us: The report was made possible by support from the Canadian Red Cross. TABLE OF CONTENTS Purpose of the case study report 4 Global agenda on ending child marriage 4 Global background on child marriage 5 and the high risk to girls Humanitarian crises and child marriage 6 Key themes 8 National Society case studies: 10 Australia 12 Bangladesh 16 Egypt 19 Lesotho 22 Malawi 25 Mali 28 Montenegro 31 Nepal 34 Norway 37 South Sudan 40 Turkey 43 The Fundamental Principles 47 International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies ACTION BY RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT NATIONAL SOCIETIES TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO CHILD MARRIAGE CASE STUDY REPORT Child marriage is a Purpose of this human rights violation. case study report It is defined as any formal or informal This case study report provides examples of concrete activities and related union where one or both lessons that may benefit future Red Cross and Red Crescent National Society parties are under projects to address child marriage in development and emergency situations. 18 years.1 Rather than being an exhaustive list of the work of National Societies, the case studies provide details of work from a sampling of Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies. Specifically, eleven projects are highlighted and represent action from the Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Middle East and North Africa Regions. Global agenda on ending child marriage The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5.3 calls for the elimination of all harmful practices such as child, early and forced marriages2 and female genital mutilation. Globally there has been a decline in child marriages by 15% from 1 in 4 to 1 in 5. But the current trend will not be enough to meet SDG 5.3 on ending child marriage by 2030.3 1 OHCHR. (2019). Child, Early and Forced Marriage, Including in Humanitarian Settings. https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Women/WRGS/Pages/ChildMarriage.aspx. 2 Forced marriages are marriages in which one and/or both parties have not personally expressed their full and free consent to the union. A child marriage is considered to be a form of forced marriage, given that one and/or both par- ties have not expressed full, free and informed consent. Early marriages, like child marriage, are marriages before the age of 18 years. Source: OHCHR. (2019). Child, Early and Forced Marriage, Including in Humanitarian Settings. https://www. ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Women/WRGS/Pages/ChildMarriage.aspx. 3 UNICEF. (2018). 25 Million Child Marriages Prevented in Last Decade Due to Accelerated Progress, According to New UNICEF Estimates. https://www.unicef.org/eca/press-releases/25-million-child-marriages-prevented. 4 International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies ACTION BY RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT NATIONAL SOCIETIES TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO CHILD MARRIAGE CASE STUDY REPORT Global background on child marriage and the high risk to girls Child marriage is a human rights violation, a form of gender-based discrimination, a harmful practice and a form of sexual and gender-based violence, which requires States to take steps to prevent and eliminate it.4 Both boys and girls are impacted by child marriage. 765 million people alive today were married as children.5 Of those, an estimated 115 million are boys and men.6 The prevalence of child marriage worldwide is significantly higher among girls; the total number of girls and women alive today that were married as children is 650 million.7 This is equivalent to 1 in 5 girls being married as children compared to 1 in 30 boys.8 There are an estimated 12 million girls who are married in childhood every year, that is equal to 23 girls being married every minute and nearly one every two seconds. The dramatic differences of girls and boys being married reflects social values and norms that hold girls in low esteem denying them the agency to chart their own course in life.9 This exemplifies how gender inequality is a root cause of child marriage. There are many negative consequences when girls are married. This is because they are not physically or emotionally ready to become wives or mothers. The consequences include:10 • Becoming isolated, having limited freedom, and feeling disempowered; • Being deprived of their fundamental rights to health, education and safety; • Increased risks of experiencing dangerous complications in pregnancy and childbirth; • Contracting HIV/AIDS; • Suffering domestic violence; and • Living in poverty due to their limited access to education and economic opportunities. 4 United Nations. (2014). Joint General Recommendation No. 31 of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women / General Comment No. 18 of the Committee on the Rights of the Child on Harmful Practices. 5 UNICEF. (2019). 115 Million Boys and Men Married as Children. https://www.unicef.org/rosa/press-releases/115-million-boys-and-men-around-world-married-children-unicef. 6 Ibid. 7 UNFPA and UNICEF. (2017). Annual Report Global Program to Accelerate Action to End Child Marriage. https://www.unicef.org/protection/files/Global_Programme_Child_Marriage_Annual_Report_2017.pdf. 8 UNICEF. (2019). 115 Million Boys and Men Married as Children. https://www.unicef.org/rosa/press-releases/115-million-boys-and-men-around-world-married-children-unicef. 9 UNFPA and UNICEF. (2017). Annual Report Global Program to Accelerate Action to End Child Marriage. https://www.unicef.org/protection/files/Global_Programme_Child_Marriage_Annual_Report_2017.pdf. 10 Girls Not Brides. (2018). https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/what-is-the-impact/. 5 International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies ACTION BY RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT NATIONAL SOCIETIES TO PREVENT AND RESPOND TO CHILD MARRIAGE CASE STUDY REPORT Countries with the highest maternal and child mortality rates are the same countries where child marriage is prevalent. In fact, a ten per cent reduction in child marriage could be associated with a 70% reduction in a country’s maternal mortality rate.11 I don’t want to marry. I just want to be home with my family. Participant of Australia Red Cross community project Humanitarian crises and child marriage Humanitarian crises can involve a variety of situations, such as conflict and post-conflict, displacement, epidemics, famine, environmental emergencies and the aftermath of natural disasters.12 Reports and data on the prevalence of child, early and forced marriage in humanitarian settings remain limited. However, the breakdown of family, social and legal networks linked to real or perceived risks of sexual violence and the consequent “damage to family honour” and economic strains underpin families’ decisions to marry girls at an early age. Fear of sexual violence against women and girls has been found to be a major concern and a reason for families to leave their homes and seek refuge elsewhere, and an incentive to marry off their daughters at a young age in the belief that marriage will protect them.13 Research shows that nine out of the ten countries with the highest child marriage rates are considered either fragile or extremely fragile states and seven out of twenty-one countries with the highest child marriage rates face some of the biggest humanitarian crisis.14 In such situations, child marriage increases with a disproportionate impact on girls. 11 University of California, San Diego. (May 2013). Higher Child Marriage Rates Associated with Higher Maternal and Infant Mortality. http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/pressrelease/higher_child_marriage_rates_associated_with_higher_maternal_ and_infant_mort. 12 United Nations General Assembly. (2019). Child, Early, and Forced Marriage in Humanitarian Settings: Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/G1911783.pdf.