There is a clear connection between extreme weather and an increase in child marriage. That is the startling conclusion of a recent study from Ohio State University. The researchers behind the study have gone through 20 previous studies that link the number of child marriages to extreme weather such as drought and floods. Bangladesh in particular stands out. In the years the country has experienced heat waves longer than 30 days, there has also been a 50 per cent increase in child marriages with girls between 11 and 14 years of age. – These are not isolated cases that are due to a specific heat wave or a fluke. It is a side effect of extreme weather conditions, says sociology professor Smitha Rao to BBC Mundo. Desperate familiar Smitha Rao led the study at Ohio University. She believes that the increase in the number of child marriages largely comes from families who desperately need money. – If a family lacks food and is financially vulnerable in connection with natural disasters, child marriage can be a strategy to get out of it, says Rao to the channel. She also points out that there are differences from country to country due to local traditions. Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to flooding, because the country lies so low. Here from a flood that hit the city of Sylhet in June 2022. Photo: Mahmud Hossain Opu / AP In Vietnam, for example, the researchers saw a clear increase in child marriages in connection with floods. There, it is common for the bride’s family to receive a dowry from the groom’s family. – In India, where the tradition is completely opposite, we did not see that tendency. There is no desire to marry off the women, as it is their family that has to pay, says Rao further. The researchers nevertheless underline that there are probably other reasons why young girls are married off. One reason may be that families wish to protect their daughters from harassment or sexual abuse. Increase during corona The corona pandemic also led to a dramatic increase in the number of child marriages. That was the conclusion of a report from Save the Children in 2020. – We estimate that almost half a million more young girls have been forced to marry during six months of covid. The number of child marriages has increased greatly, along with teenage pregnancy and abuse, foreign affairs manager Nora Ingdal told news at the time. She also drew a line between child marriage and poor finances. – Poor countries do not have welfare schemes. They have to find other ways to survive. Marrying off young girls is unfortunately one of the harmful customs we see a sharp increase in, says Ingdal. Financial setback hits the girls Ottar Mæstad, senior researcher at the Christian Michelsen Institute, says that the findings of the study are not surprising. – Poverty is an important cause of child marriage, and extreme weather destroys crops and reduces people’s income. This can therefore lead to more girls being married off at a young age. Photo: Eivind Senneset What do you think about the situation in recent years, first the pandemic and then increasingly extreme weather around the world? – It shows how vulnerable poor families are to economic setbacks, and that it can especially affect girls. But even without the pandemic and global warming, there would be far too many child brides. He says that one of the most important measures to prevent child marriage is, among other things, to fight against poverty. “Poverty, combined with social norms that make it advantageous to marry away and marry young girls, as well as a lack of education, are important reasons for child marriage,” says Mæstad.
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Clear connection between extreme weather and child marriage – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
