UNICEF Urges Action to End Child Marriage in Afghanistan

DID Press: UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for urgent action to end child marriage in Afghanistan and urged the Taliban to allow adolescent girls to return to secondary education beyond Grade 6.

In a statement issued on Sunday to mark the International Day of the Girl, UNICEF warned that child marriage deprives girls of their rights to education, health and future opportunities, with potentially serious consequences for their lives.Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF’s representative in Afghanistan, cited findings from the 2022–2023 Afghanistan Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, which found that 28.7 percent of women aged 20–24 had married before the age of 18. In some parts of the country, the rate was reported to reach about 50 percent.

Oyewale said every girl deserves a childhood, access to education, opportunities to grow in safety and the chance to develop her skills so she can shape her own future.UNICEF warned that child marriage can force girls to leave school, restrict their employment and social opportunities, and increase their exposure to violence and social isolation.

Early marriage and pregnancy also pose serious health risks; pregnancy-related deaths are among the leading causes of death for girls aged 15–19 in Afghanistan.UNICEF GlobalThe UN agency said preventing child marriage requires expanding access to safe, quality education, strengthening protection for girls at risk, and providing greater support to families facing economic hardship.

UNICEF also called on families, religious and community leaders, service providers and the international community to work together to protect girls’ rights and prevent child marriage.