Child Marriage

 Written by: Samira Haleemzai

According to the international laws, boys and girls under 18 are children and child marriage is forbidden but in some provinces of Afghanistan, this kind of marriage is common and girls under 15-16 are married and this issue causes some problems to girls, brides’ and grooms’ families.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some people about this issue.

A woman, a resident of Laghman province say, “When I was a small girl, my father engaged me to a boy who was living in one of our neighboring countries and I had not seen him. After some times, they arranged our wedding ceremony and after that day, I faced many problems. My mother-in-law was always quarreling with me and asking me why I don’t know house chores. My husband wanted me to be a mother but as I was small and I was afraid of delivering a baby, I denied to be pregnant but my husband forced me to have a baby. I had severe pain during my delivery and after that, I did not know how to raise the baby and after sometimes, they sent me back to my father’s house.”

Another woman, a resident of Shakardara district, Kabul province says, “I was a small girl when I lost my parents and my brother married me to a boy. I did not know how to treat my mother-in-law and father-in-law. My sisters-in-law were always arguing with me. When I had to deliver a baby, I was not aware of my sickness and I faced many problems.”

A psychologist, Sharafuddin Azimi talks about this issue, “If a girl marries in a small age, she would face both psychological and physical problems. She would have a little chance to be a mother. If she gets pregnant, as her body is not capable of delivering a baby, she might lose her and her baby life and if she remains alive, she might suffer different kinds of psychological problems.”

What do some people think about the causes of the problems of child marriage?

A girl, a resident of Parwan province says, “As the girl is small and could not know how to treat her husband’s family; she could not do home chores as it should be done and wants to visit her father and mother as soon as possible, therefore they face problems.”

Sharafuddin Azimi says, “When they marry a small girl, she could not forget her parents and could live away from them. Her Husband’s house wants her a responsible woman but she could not realize her responsibilities and she would face many problems.”

How could the girl, her family and villagers find a solution to child marriage?

Shakir, a headmaster at one of the schools of Shakardara district, Kabul province says, “Once we gathered in a district council and discussed the disadvantages of child marriage and all the members of the council decided to prevent child marriage. Nories his/her daughter in a small age and the girls in our district complete their school without the fear of marriage of them in small age.”