Understanding the Risks of Underage Marriage in Iran

Setting an appropriate minimum age of marriage is vital to safeguarding children’s well-being in Iran. As numerous studies have shown, marrying too young severely jeopardizes one’s physical, mental, and socioeconomic development. It pulls children prematurely from school and into adult roles for which they are unprepared. While cultural practices regarding marriage vary worldwide, all nations share a duty to establish baseline standards upholding minors’ fundamental rights.

Scope in Iran

This discussion seeks to shed light on the perils of underage unions in Iran specifically, as well as the efforts of advocates working to strengthen legal protections. It also examines relevant international frameworks that can help guide policy reforms. Defining underage marriage as unions where one or both spouses fall below the legal age of consent, usually 18. Research shows girls disproportionately experience the negative impacts due to entrenched gender inequalities prioritizing tradition over individual choice and health although large number of boys are also push to get married underaged and thrown into adulthood life expect to become breadwinners for their very young families. Alarmingly, one in five Iranian girls reportedly marries in childhood according to regional statistics.
All provinces of Iran are impacted by the practice of underage marriage, though prevalence varies between rural and urban areas. Rural regions tend to have higher rates due to more deeply ingrained traditional views on early marriage. But child marriage still threatens many young boys and grils across the country.

Health and Social Impacts

Scientific evidence confirms the medical and psychological dangers child brides incur compared to peers able to postpone marriage and parenthood until adulthood. Early pregnancy and childbearing, all too common outcomes of underage unions, represent a leading cause of mortality for girls aged 15-19 globally. Risks involve maternal death, sexually transmitted diseases, obstetric fistula and more. Educational attainment on average declines as well, limiting future prospects. Forced into household and spousal responsibilities prematurely, underage brides also face greater risks of domestic violence, marital rape, and loss of self-determination.

Not only girls face consequences. Research like Kameel Ahmady and his team’s influential Echo of Silence highlights risk even for young grooms pressured into early marriages. Mental health impacts, educational disruption, and financial burdens affect boys married young, though social norms make it difficult for them to seek help.

Scale and Data

Available data reveals the scale of child marriage in Iran remains too high, with some 500,000-600,000 child brides annually. This accounts for approximately 17% of all Iranian unions as documented, though informal arrangements may drive real numbers even higher. Ahmady’s work helps unpack contributing factors like gender discrimination, poverty, and cultural views to strengthen reforms protecting girls’ and boys’ well-being universally in accordance with their basic human rights.

Advocacy Efforts and Legal Barriers

Progress towards reform has proven difficult. Article 1041 of Iran’s civil code sets the minimum marriage age at 13 for girls and 15 for boys. For decades, advocates have called for raising it to 18 without success. Parliamentary amendments proposing this change have stalled due to conservative pushback prioritizing tradition over public health standards. Ongoing civic protests continue pressuring leaders, while international human rights commitments apply additional diplomatic pressure for reform.

Another concerning trend is the rise in child widows in Iran. Girls married young who lose their husbands to illness, accident or conflict face compounded risks. They suffer the traumas of widowhood while still physically and emotionally immature. Denied education and often shunned by society, these widows exemplify the extreme costs of child marriage. Their plight underscores the urgent need for legal safeguards.

International Guidance

International frameworks like the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child provide vital guidance. They emphasize informed consent, non-discrimination, evolving capacities, and the duty of states to prevent harmful practices violating minors’ welfare. While not dictating local customs outright, such frameworks remind all nations of their obligation to protect children’s fundamental human rights.

In summary, research leaves no doubt that underage marriage in Iran jeopardizes health, development, safety and well-being. Meaningful progress relies on collaborative advocacy, policy reforms, and evolving social attitudes that empower young people to choose their futures freely. With open dialogue and determination, Iran can overcome this challenge in time by establishing child marriage prevention as a national priority.

https://metapress.com/understanding-the-risks-of-underage-marriage-in-iran/