GenderBased Violence and the Girl Child A Focus

Gender-Based Violence and the Girl Child: A Focus on Early and Forced Marriage Yvonne Rafferty, Ph. D Pace University Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Working Group on Girls 1

Overview 1. The Girl Child: An Overview 2. Early and Forced Marriage 3. Consequences on Girls’ Development Rafferty, November 2012 2

Part 1 The Girl Child: An Overview Rafferty, 9/22/09 3

Promises Have Been Made Universal Declaration of Human Rights CEDAW CRC Rafferty, November 2012 4

Promises Have Been Broken Remains powerless, invisible and neglected throughout her life-cycle. Experiences many of the worst human rights abuses. Rafferty, November 2012 5

She is all too often denied… Right to food, health, education Freedom to choose her life partner and her life’s work Political, economic, & social rights Rafferty, 9/22/09 6

Hillary Clinton… “Of particular concern to me is the plight of women and girls, who comprise the majority of the world’s unhealthy, unschooled, unfed, and unpaid. Rafferty, November 2012 7

She is also… Subjected to cultural and traditional practices … Present a grave risk to her physical, psychological, spiritual and social-emotional development Rafferty, November 2012 8

WGG Focus…. Son Preference Honor Killings Genital Mutilation Sexual Exploitation Early and Forced Marriage Rafferty, November 2012 9

As a Result…. Less likely to have decisionmaking control over their own lives and bodies. Key decisions affecting them are made by their fathers, brothers and husbands. Rafferty, 9/22/09 10

Part 2 Early and Forced Marriage Rafferty, 9/22/09 11

A Violation of Human Rights “Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intended spouses” [The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 16(d)] “…freely choose a spouse and to enter into marriage only with their free and full consent. ” [CEDAW (Article 16) ] ”Take all effective and appropriate measures with a view to abolish traditional practices prejudicial to the health of the children. ” [CEDAW (Article 16) ] Rafferty, November 2012 12

Drawing by teenager from Burkina Faso during a child rights program. © Plan International Rafferty, November 2012 13

Prevalence of Early Marriage Around the World Source: UNICEF, www. childinfo. org/marriage_countrydata. php, and PRB analysis.

The Numbers…. >60 million child brides worldwide South Asia (31 million) Sub-Saharan Africa (14 million). In these regions > 30% are married High rates also in Latin America and the Caribbean. Rafferty, November 2012 15

The Numbers…. Most girls 15 -18 Recent data from 31 countries in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa Nepal, 7% by 10; 40% by 15; Mali, Bangladesh, and parts of India: 20% by 15. Bangladesh, Chad and the Niger: 33% by 15 In nine countries, at least 50% by 18 Rafferty, November 2012 16

COUNTRIES WITH 50 PERCENT OR MORE OF WOMEN 20 -24 YEARS OLD WHO MARRIED OR ENTERED INTO UNION BY AGE 18, 2000 -2011 Niger 75% Chad: 72% Bangladesh: 66% Guinea: 63% Central African Republic: 61% Mali: 55% Mozambique: 52% Malawi: 50% Rafferty, November 2012 17

The Children…. Stephanie Sinclair Recipient of the 2007 UNICEF Photo of the Year. Photo essay of Afghani child brides published in The New York Times. Rafferty, November 2012 18

GHULAM, AGE 11 / FAIZ, AGE 40 (Afghanistan) Photo by Stephanie Sinclair / VII Photo / Too Young To Wed An Afghan child bride. Photo Stephanie Sinclair Rafferty, November 2012 19

Portrait of Said, 55, and Roshan, 8, on the day of their engagement, Afghanistan, Sept. 10, 2005. Father of the bride, Abdul, 60, said he is unhappy giving his daughter away at such a young age, but has no choice due to severe poverty. Stephanie Sinclair / VII Rafferty, November 2012 20

MAYA, AGE 8 / KISHORE, AGE 13 (India) Photo by Stephanie Sinclair / VII Photo / Too Young To Wed Rafferty, November 2012 21

Young girls sit inside a home outside of Al Hudaydah. Yemeni women’s rights groups agree that child marriage is rampant in every part of Yemeni society. Photo by Stephanie Sinclair / VII Photo / Too Young To Wed Rafferty, November 2012 22

YEMEN - TEMPORARY "TOURIST MARRIAGES" DECEIVE WOMEN & GIRLS - VIOLATE RIGHTS. Yemeni girls preparing for marriage to wealthy Arabs - often the unions are short term and exist primarily for the sexual gratification of the man. Rafferty, November 2012 23

USA POLYGAMOUS SECT - CHILDREN REMOVED BY STATE GIRLS TELL OF FORCED INTO MARRIAGE & SEX WITH OLDER MEN Interviews with hundreds of children removed from a polygamist sect in Texas have revealed that several underage girls were forced into "spiritual marriage" with much older men as soon as they reached puberty and were then made pregnant, according to investigators. The Guardian 4 -10 -2008. Photograph: Tony Gutierrez/AP Rafferty, November 2012 24

The Reasons… Poverty Prevailing Gender Norms Cultural and Traditional Practices Rafferty, November 2012 25

Poverty and Mounting Debt Pushing families in Afghanistan to sell their daughters in marriage at younger ages. "The Opium Brides of Afghanistan” Rafferty, November 2012 26

Armed Conflict To avoid abduction or rape; To raise income for the survival of the family. Rafferty, November 2012 27

Part 3 The Consequences on Girls’ Development Rafferty, 9/22/09 28

The environment Extremely vulnerable to economic, physical, psychological, and sexual abuse. Rafferty, November 2012 29

“One of the most persistent forms of sanctioned sexual abuse of girls and young women…” (International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and the Forum on Marriage, and the Rights of Women and Girls, 2006). Rafferty, November 2012 30

The Environment of Child Marriage An end to childhood – before she is physically, psychologically, or emotionally prepared Little influence with their husbands and inlaws Little opportunity to develop awareness of rights Domestic and sexual violence Rafferty, November 2012 31

Loss of Education and Schooling Life options diminished with loss of schooling. Reduces chances of acquiring skills and economic opportunities. Mothers with little education are less likely to keep their own children in school, perpetuating a downward cycle of deprivation. Rafferty, November 2012 32

“Denies girls the opportunity to fully develop their potential as healthy, productive and empowered citizens. ” (UNFPA, 2012, p. 11). Rafferty, November 2012 33

Physical and Mental Health Problems It is particularly in the context of reproductive and sexual health that child brides and their offspring face the greatest risk. Rafferty, November 2012 34

v 16 million girls (15 -19) give birth each year; v 95% occur in low- and middle-income countries. v 90% of the mothers in developing countries are married. v. These young, first-time mothers face much higher risks during pregnancy and childbirth than older women. Rafferty, November 2012 35

Higher Rates of Childhood Mortality/ Severe Physical Health Complications ØPregnancy related deaths -- leading cause of mortality in girls (15 – 19) in developing countries; ØThose < 15 are 5 times more likely to die than those > 20 Rafferty, November 2012 36

70, 000 adolescent mothers die each year, mostly in developing countries, because they have children before they are physically ready for parenthood Rafferty, November 2012 37

Babies are also at risk. . . v. Infant deaths are twice as high in babies of very young women. v. The children are 50% more likely to die than children born to women in their 20’s. v. Also more likely to be born prematurely, suffer low birth weight, and to be malnourished. Rafferty, November 2012 38

Consequences OMS Adolescent pregnancy reinforces the vicious cycle of poverty and ill health: Adolescent mothers in many places leave or are made to leave school, and are less likely than their peers to develop vocational skills.

Severe Health Problems…. For every person who dies in childbirth, some 15 to 30 survive, yet suffer chronic disabilities, the most devastating being obstetric fistula (UNFPA, 2003). Rafferty, November 2012 40

Obstetric fistula – constant pain, vulnerable to infection, incontinent, and often shunned by their husbands, families, and communities. Rafferty, November 2012 41

HIV/AIDS Their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS is increased. Young mothers and their babies are a greater risk of contracting HIV/AIDS than their older peers. Rafferty, November 2012 42

HIV/AIDS Young girls are especially vulnerable to HIV because of their biology, and the heightened risk can increase with marriage, especially for child brides who marry older, more sexuallyexperienced husbands. Girls may lack the power to negotiate safer sex and have little access to information or services to prevent either pregnancy or infection. Rafferty, November 2012 43

In sub-Saharan countries with high HIV prevalence, young women 5 – 24 years old are about 2 – 4 times more likely to be infected with HIV than young men. Rafferty, November 2012 44

In Zambia 25% of young women aged 15 – 24 are HIV positive. The corresponding rate for Mozambique is 19 (both are child marriage hotspots). Rafferty, November 2012 45

Barriers Limited access to, and use of, contraception and reproductive health services and information. Inability to negotiate its use due to fear of violence from their spouses (IPPF, 2006). Rafferty, November 2012 46

Poorer Mental Health Outcomes There is a vast research base documenting the link between gender-based physical and sexual violence on girls’ mental health. Rafferty, November 2012 47

Recommendations Rafferty, November 2012 48

1. Empower girls by building their skills and enhancing their social assets Empower girls at risk of child marriage through life skills training, provision of safe spaces for girls to discuss their futures, the provision of information about their options, and the development of support networks. Such interventions can equip girls with knowledge and skills in areas relevant to their lives, including sexual and reproductive health, nutrition, and their rights under the law. Rafferty, November 2012 49

2. Improve girls’ access to quality formal education Girls’ education, especially at the secondary level, is strongly associated with later marriage. Girls with secondary schooling are up to six times less likely to marry while children, compared to girls with little to no education. Rafferty, November 2012 50

“There is no tool for development more effective than the education of girls. If we want to succeed in our efforts to build a more healthy, peaceful and equitable world, the classrooms of the world have to be filled with girls as well as boys. ” Kofi Annan, former United Nations Secretary General 254 Rafferty, November 2012 51

“I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality. And it is no coincidence that countries where women are well-educated are far more likely to be prosperous… I am convinced that our daughters can contribute just as much to society as our sons. ” Barack Obama, President of the United States, 4 June 2009, Cairo, Egypt Rafferty, November 2012 52

GOAL 1: ERADICATE EXTREME POVERTY AND HUNGER Support girls – stay in school – delay children – Develop new skills and generate income; Build an economic base that will help lift future generations out of poverty. Rafferty, November 2012 53

3. Mobilize communities to transform detrimental social norms Traditionally the family and elders of the community have made the decision whether, when and whom a girl will marry. Working with parents and other community stakeholders is therefore vital in changing the attitudes and social norms that perpetuate harmful practices. Rafferty, November 2012 54

Household Decisions Made by Husbands Alone Percent Source: PRB, The World’s Women and Girls 2011 Data Sheet.

Women and Men Who Agree That Wife Beating is Acceptable if a Wife Argues With Her Husband (%) Source: Demographic and Health Surveys, various years.

Women and Men Who Agree That Wife Beating is Acceptable if a Wife Argues With Her Husband Source: Demographic and Health Surveys, various years.

Women and Men Who Agree That Wife Beating is Acceptable if a Wife Refuses Sex With Her Husband Source: Demographic and Health Surveys, various years.

4. Enhance the economic situation of girls and their families Incentive-based programs have been used to encourage and enable families to postpone the marriage of their daughters and to keep them in school through post-primary and secondary level. Incentives may include loans, scholarships, subsidies and conditional cash transfers. Employment opportunities for girls (e. g. , microfinance schemes, vocational training), can generate viable alternatives to child marriage. Rafferty, November 2012 59

5. Generate an enabling legal and policy environment Legislation and appropriate enforcement. Enact and enforce national legislation that raise the age of marriage to 18 for both girls and boys. Rafferty, November 2012 60

Research and Action Use data to identify and target geographic “hotspots”—areas with high proportions and numbers of girls at risk of child marriage Expand prevention programs that empower girls at risk of child marriage and address the root causes underlying the practice. Mitigate the harmful impact of child marriage on married girls. Invest in efforts to improve data on monitoring and evaluation in order to strengthen programmes for girls at risk and married girls. Rafferty, November 2012 61

Lessons Learned (UNFPA, 2012) NUJOOD, AGE 12 (Yemen) Nujood Ali was ten when she fled her abusive, much older husband took a taxi to the courthouse in Sanaa, Yemen. The girl’s courageous act—and the landmark legal battle that ensued—turned her into an international heroine for women’s rights. Now divorced, she is back home with her family and attending school again. Photo by Stephanie Sinclair / VII Photo / Too Young To Wed Rafferty, November 2012 62

Promising Approaches (PRB Fact Sheet) In rural Ethiopia, a project targeting young women provided mentoring from adult women in the community, economic incentives to remain in school, and improved access to reproductive health information and services. Early marriage among participants dropped significantly. Senegal's Tostan community empowerment project reduced early marriage through sessions on human rights, democracy, and health that included education on the right to free consent to marriage and the health problems that child marriage and early childbearing can cause. In Bangladesh, scholarships for secondary school proved to greatly influence parents' decisions to keep their daughters in school. The scholarships increased girls' enrollment and attendance significantly. A project in Nepal focused on providing income-generating skills to young girls to help support themselves financially, stay in school, and avoid early marriage. Rafferty, November 2012 63

UNFPA Strategies ETHIOPIA: Changing social norms and delaying marriage for girls MALAWI: Confronting child marriage at the highest levels of government NEPAL: Helping girls help themselves—and other girls NIGER: Tapping the influence of village chiefs and religious leaders PAKISTAN: Targeting child marriage and obstetric fistula Rafferty, November 2012 64

Prevention – What Works Plan report UNFPA report ICRW report Rafferty, November 2012 65

Reduce marriage before age 18 POLICY-LEVEL ACTIONS • Prohibit early marriage UNFPA INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY & COMMUNITY-LEVEL ACTIONS • Inform and empower girls • Keep girls in school • Influence cultural norms that support early marriage

Reduce marriage before age 18 EVIDENCE UNFPA • 21 ungraded reports or studies, and the expert panel’s recommendations • Evidence from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nepal, Senegal & Yemen • Interventions included communicating targeting adolescents, community members, and other political decisions

Increase use of skilled antenatal, childbirth, and postpartum care POLICY-LEVEL ACTIONS • Expand access to skilled antenatal, childbirth, and postnatal care • Expand access to Basic and Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, & COMMUNITY-LEVEL ACTIONS • Inform adolescents and community members about the importance of skilled antenatal and childbirth care • Ensure that adolescents, families, and communities are well prepared for birth and birth-related emergencies • Be sensitive and responsive to the needs of young mothers and mothers-to-be WHO HEALTH SYSTEM-LEVEL ACTIONS

Increase use of skilled antenatal, childbirth, and postpartum care EVIDENCE WHO • 1 graded study, 1 ungraded study, existing WHO guidelines & expert panel’s recommendations • Studies from Chile and India • Interventions included home visits to adolescent mothers and a cash transfer scheme contingent upon health facility births

“Educated and empowered women and girls can make informed decisions about their own health. ” — DR. MARGARET CHAN, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, WHO “When girls are educated, healthy and can avoid child marriage, unintended pregnancy and HIV, they can contribute fully to their societies’ battles against poverty. ” — DR. BABATUNDE OSOTIMEHIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UNFPA

Video clips… v The Bride Price: Consequences of Child Marriage Worldwide (ICRW) The Bride Price: Consequences of Child Marriage Worldwide is a video containing moving images by Stephanie Sinclair - recipient of the 2007 UNICEF Photo of the Year - on the many issues of child marriage. Sinclair's photos include compelling images of child brides in Afghanistan, Ethiopia and India. Sinclair's previous work on child marriage includes a photo essay of Afghani child brides published in The New York Times http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=dbk. Eah. O 161 U (10 mins) http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=dbk. Eah. O 161 U v Child Marriage in Ethiopia: Girl Up visited Biruh Tesfa, a UN program supporting teen girls in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, in April of 2011, as a follow-up to a UN Foundation visit in 2010. We met girls with inspiring stories — girls who escaped child marriage to attend school and learn life skills that they can invest back into their families for years to come. Http: //www. girlup. org/get-involved/child-marriage-in-ethiopia. html (3: 19) Rafferty, November 2012 71

More Videos… Too Young to Wed: The Secret World of Child Brides Every year, throughout the world, millions of young girls are forced into marriage. Child marriage is outlawed in many countries and international agreements forbid the practice yet this tradition still spans continents, language, religion and caste. http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=q. Yle. Xcpbz. KY (10: 42) The Bride Price: Consequences of Child Marriage Worldwide is a video containing moving images by Stephanie Sinclair - recipient of the 2007 UNICEF Photo of the Year - on the many issues of child marriage. http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Uam. NBf. I 5 P 8 o (6: 40). *** Rafferty, November 2012 72

Interviews Mary Robinson -- In this interview, the Honorable Mary Robinson talks about why child marriage violates human rights and how the practice can be addressed and changed. http: //www. prb. org/Journalists/Webcasts/~/link. aspx? _id=197 E 215 C 4748413 AA 438 F 56 C 8201 C 509&_z=z Rafferty, November 2012 73

Recommended Readings Population Reference Bureau [PRB] (2011). Who speaks for me? Ending child marriage fact sheet. http: //www. prb. org/pdf 11/childmarriage-fact-sheet. pdf Rafferty, November 2012 74

Opium Brides: Najibullah Quraishi journeys deep into the Afghan countryside to reveal the deadly bargain local farm families have been forced to make with drug smugglers in order to survive http: //www. pbs. org/wgbh/pages/frontline/opium-brides/ (33 mins) http: //www. pbs. org/wgbh/pages/frontline/afghanistanpakistan/opium-brides/afghanistans-opium-brides-who-isworking-on-the-issue/ See also: http: //www. pbs. org/wgbh/pages/frontline/opiumbrides/When Afghan Girls Pay the Price for the Crimes of Others Rafferty, November 2012 75