Child Early and Forced Marriage: A Norm Endangering Girls and Women.

Article by: Christine Ghati Alfons

I am the founder of Safe Engage Foundation, an organisation working with youths as the change agents to stir up dialogues in the community with an aim of achieving a community free from violence against women and children.

I am a Kenyan activist working towards the abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting and Child marriages in my community and beyond.

I am also a co-facilitator with Orchid Project, specialising in UNICEF’s six elements for abandonment of FGM/C.

From 2019-2020 I served in the Executive committee of CYGEN as the Child Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM) lead and I am a Queen’s Young Leader (2015).

Contact Details

Twitter: @Ghatichristine

Facebook: Christine Alfons

Instagram: @alfonschristine

This article gives overview of child and forced marriages, factors contributing to and effects of Child marriages, and strategies that have been employed across the Commonwealth member states to curb the practice. It also highlights two stories of women who are survivors of child, early, and forced marriages.

Marriage is often regarded as a moment of celebration; a milestone in an adult’s life. Unfortunately, the practice of child, early and forced marriage gives no such cause for celebration. All too often, forcing a married partner upon a child means that their childhood is cut short – and their fundamental rights are compromised.

What are the differences between Child, Early and Forced marriage?