Child marriage in Mali

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Child Marriage in Mali is an ongoing practice. Mali has the 5th highest prevalence of female child marriages globally. A study conducted by the Institut National de la Statistique in 2018 found that 15% of 15-19 year old girls were married by the age of 15, a reduction compared to the 18% of women aged 20-49 who had been married by that age. The same study also shows that while 53% of women aged 20-49 were married before the age of 18, the same was true for only 3% of men, with no recorded marriages of boys aged 15 or younger. [1]

The practice of bride kidnapping is a historic tradition in Mali. The act which involves a would-be groom abducting a girl or woman to make her his bride is still present in some sections of southern Mali, with cases of school girls being kidnapped at least as recently as 2015. [2]

Marriages of girls under the age of 15 persist in Mali despite the Persons and Family Code (2011) setting the minimum age to 16. Prevelance is highest in rural areas with low literacy and high rates of poverty, in particular the south-western part of the country which is Muslim dominated. The regions of the country with the highest rates of child marriage are Kayes, Sikasso and Mopti. [2]

On October 11, 2015, First Lady of Mali Keïta Aminata Maiga launched a national campaign to end the practice of child marriage in Mali. [3]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girl</span> Young female human

A girl is a young female human, usually a child or an adolescent. When a girl becomes an adult, she is generally referred to as a woman. However, the term girl is also used for other meanings, including young woman, and is sometimes used as a synonym for daughter or girlfriend regardless of age. In certain contexts, the usage of the term girl for an adult woman may be considered derogatory. Girl may also be a term of endearment used by an adult, usually a woman, to designate adult female friends. Girl also appears in compounds like showgirl, cowgirl, and schoolgirl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bride kidnapping</span> Practice in which someone abducts the person they wish to marry

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forced marriage</span> Being married without consenting

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Child marriage in South Sudan</span>

Child marriage is a marriage or union between a child under the age of 18 to another child or to an adult. Child marriage is common in a multitude of African countries. In South Sudan, child marriage is a growing epidemic. Child marriage in South Sudan is driven by socioeconomic factors such as poverty and gender inequality. Current figures state that South Sudan is one of the leading countries in the world when it comes to child marriage. Child marriage has negative consequences for children, including health problems and lower education rates for South Sudanese girls. Many initiatives have been taken to combat child marriage in South Sudan, but the presence of societal norms and instability continues to drive its presence in the nation.

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References

  1. https://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR358/FR358.pdf
  2. 1 2 "Multi-Country Analytical Study of Legislation,Policies, Interventions and Cultural Practices on Child Marriage in Africa" (PDF).
  3. "The Republic of Mali launches the AU Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa". African Union . 2015-10-16. Archived from the original on 2018-07-01. Retrieved 2019-03-21.