Context:

• The proportion of girls getting married in India has nearly halved in a decade, the United Nations children’s agency UNICEF said on Tuesday, which has contributed significantly to a global decline in child marriage.

About the findings:

• UNICEF said 25 million child marriages were prevented worldwide in the last decade, with the largest reduction seen in South Asia – where India was at the forefront.
• India constitutes more than 20 percent of the world’s adolescent population and accounts for the highest number of child marriages in South Asia.
• In the current trend, 27 percent of girls, or nearly 1.5 million girls, get married before they turn 18 in India.
• This is a sharp decline from 47 percent a decade ago.
• Child marriage adds to health, education and abuse risks, and increases the chance of intergenerational poverty.
• UNICEF estimates that 12 million girls a year are married globally.
• UNICEF also stressed to end the practice by 2030 – the target set under the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Source:TH