Understanding forced marriage & its impact on girls
Forced marriage is a serious human rights violation that disproportionately affects girls, denying them choice, education, and safety. Forced marriage worsens in times of crisis, where instability makes girls more vulnerable. While legal protections exist, enforcement remains weak in many regions. Ending forced marriage requires stronger laws, education, economic empowerment for women and girls, and community-driven change.
What is forced marriage?
Forced marriage is when one or both individuals are married without their consent and against their free will. It often involves emotional, physical, or psychological abuse to pressure someone into marrying against their will and can even involve threats and violence.
How does forced marriage differ from arranged marriage?
An arranged marriage is when the family helps to choose a partner but both individuals have free will to agree to the marriage or not. In a forced marriage, a bride or groom cannot refuse to marry.
Legal definitions and international laws on forced marriage
Globally, forced marriage is recognised as a human rights violation. It is recognised in both international law and national legal systems and is criminalised in many countries, including the UK, Canada, Germany, France, Austria and the U.S.
Here are some examples of international laws on forced marriage:
- In Article 16(2) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), 1948 states:
Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
- In Article 16(1)(b) of Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), 1979 states:
States must ensure that women and men have the same right to freely choose a spouse and to enter into marriage only with their free and full consent.
- In Article 19 & 24 (3) of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), 1989 states:
Protects children from all forms of abuse and harmful traditional practices, including child marriage.
- In Article 23(3) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), 1966 states:
No marriage shall be entered into without the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
Where does forced marriage happen?
Forced marriage happens globally, however there are certain regions where it is more common. This could be because of cultural, economic, religious, or social factors as well as climate change and conflict areas. It’s important to note that every major religion condemns forced marriage.
Regional prevalence
The regions where forced marriage is most prevalent are:
- South Asia - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Afghanistan
- Sub-Saharan Africa - Nigeria, Chad, Mali, Niger and Ethiopia
- Southeast Asia - Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos
- Middle East and North Africa - Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Egypt and Sudan
Forced marriage, even though it’s criminalised, still happens in the UK. In 2023, the UK’s Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) received 802 contacts related to a possible forced marriage and/or possible female genital mutilation.
Cultural and religious contexts
Cultural and religious contexts play significant roles in the practice and persistence of forced marriage. However, it’s important to state that the major religions are against the practice of forced marriage. Even though it’s condemned by major religions, cultural interpretations and traditions means that forced and child marriage still happens.
For example, in many societies in South Asia, Africa and the Middle East, family honour is tied to a girl’s behaviour and her virginity. A girl or young woman may be forced to get married to control her sexuality or to restore honour after a perceived shame (such as a pre-martial relationship, rape or pre-marital pregnancy).
What are the causes of forced marriage?
Forced marriage happens for many reasons, which may differ between regions, cultures and communities.
Gender inequality and patriarchal norms
Gender inequality and patriarchal norms drive forced marriage by valuing girls less than boys, limiting their autonomy, and viewing them as economic burdens or as property. In patriarchal societies, men often control decisions about marriage. Girls may be married off early to preserve family honour, for financial gain, or to reinforce male dominance.
Poverty and economic pressures
Poverty is one of the most significant drivers of forced and child marriage. Poverty and economic instability puts huge pressure on families. When meeting basic needs, like providing food, shelter and water becomes difficult, marriage may be seen as a way to reduce the number of dependents in a household.
In some cases, families may receive a dowry (a sum of money for their daughter’s marriage), which they see as a vital source of income.
Gender-based violence
Gender-based violence (GBV) contributes to forced marriage by using threats, coercion, or violence to pressure individuals — especially women and girls — into marrying against their will. Families may force marriage to prevent sexual violence, to hide sexual violence, to ‘restore honour’ or control female sexuality.
In conflict and crisis areas, forced marriage can also result from sexual exploitation or trafficking. GBV reinforces power imbalances that deny women and girls the right to choose who to marry and when.
Cultural expectations
In many communities around the world, it is socially acceptable, and sometimes even desirable, for girls to be married before the age of 18 — despite laws against forced marriage.
Financial motivations
In some cultures, it is customary to receive financial payment when a daughter is married off. In Africa this is called a ‘bride price’ and in South Asia it’s called a dowry. For families who may be struggling financially, these payments could be motivation to marry their daughter off early or to force them into a marriage. The payment could be a sum of money, or it could be livestock or other valuables.
Lack of legal protections and weak enforcement
Many countries around the world have criminalised and have legals protections against forced marriage. But even in these countries, forced marriage still takes place.
Where there is a lack of legal protection or weak enforcement of laws, forced marriage happens because families and communities can act without consequence. When governments fail to criminalise forced marriage, set clear age limits for marriage, or protect victims, those responsible are not held accountable. Often victims lack access to legal aid, shelters, or police protection, making escaping a forced marriage extremely hard.
The effects of forced marriage on women and girls
Forced marriage has long-lasting and severe effects on women and girls. They are more likely to experience poverty and have limited legal or financial independence. Their fundamental human rights — to make choices, access education, and live free from violence — are denied. This leaves them trapped in ongoing cycles of inequality and powerlessness.
Increased vulnerability to domestic and sexual violence
Girls and women in forced marriages are more vulnerable to domestic and sexual violence because they often lack consent, power, and support in the relationship. They may be forced to take part in sexual acts, through intimidation, pressure or threats of violence. Often girls are married to older men, which reduces their ability to resist or report abuse and increases their dependency on them.
Health risks: early pregnancy and maternal mortality
When girls marry young, they lack the power to refuse sex or to take contraception, and this can lead to early pregnancy. Their young bodies may not be physically ready to carry a child or give birth, which can lead to complications during pregnancy and an increased risk of maternal mortality.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), complications in pregnancy and childbirth are a leading cause of death among girls aged 15–19 and babies of adolescent mothers are prone to premature birth, low birth weight and severe neonatal complications.
Education cut short and limited economic opportunities
When girls are in education, they know their rights, can make better choices and take control of their lives.
Girls who are forced into marriage usually don’t attend or finish school. This loss of education limits their earning potential and career opportunities and makes them economically dependent on their husband. Without financial independence, it’s harder to leave a forced marriage.
Psychological trauma and mental health impacts
Often girls and women in forced marriages are physically, emotionally, and sexually abused, which may result in risky early pregnancies. Having little to no agency over their lives can cause depression, anxiety, and long-term trauma..
The rise of child marriage in humanitarian crises
Girls growing up in poverty or facing crisis, conflict or disaster are more at risk of child marriage. Child marriage is either a formal marriage or informal union that takes place before one or both people involved are 18. It's sometimes called early and forced marriage, although there are differences.
Humanitarian crises and emergencies increase financial pressures on households. Many families who wouldn’t have thought of early marriage before turn to it as a last resort.
The intersectionality of forced marriage
Intersectionality is the concept that social identities — such as race, gender, sexuality, and ability — are interconnected and cannot be separated. These overlapping identities create combined and often compounded experiences of discrimination, inequality, or disadvantage.
The key intersecting factors of forced marriage are:
- Gender and age - girls and young women face higher risks of forced marriage because of patriarchal norms and expectations around marriage and sexuality.
- Ethnicity and culture - forced marriage may be a protection against inappropriate behaviour or as a way to keep the family’s ‘honour’ intact.
- Religion - whilst no major religion supports forced marriage, a misinterpretation or manipulation of religious beliefs can result in forced marriage.
- Socioeconomic status - girls who live in poverty and lack access to education, are at risk of forced marriage as families may see it as economic survival.
- Crises and humanitarian emergencies - instability and displacement can increase a girl’s vulnerability and a forced marriage may be used as a survival strategy or protection.
Ending forced marriage
Ending forced marriage requires strengthening laws and enforcement, empowering women and girls, engaging communities and leaders, raising awareness and campaigning for change.
Community education and changing social norms
At Plan International UK we want to see a world where girls, in all their diversity, are in control of their futures. Right now, girls are still denied the power and agency to make choices over their own bodies and their own lives. From being told when and whom to marry and have children with, to lacking the freedom to access contraception, they are robbed of the right to decide what happens to them.
Relationship, sex and health education strengthens young people’s knowledge, attitudes, and skills. Knowing about your body, pregnancy, sex, healthy relationships, harmful practices and other forms of gender-based violence gives girls the tools to make safe, informed choices for themselves and others.
Education can disrupt gender stereotypes and harmful practices. Through education, young people are better equipped to challenge harmful beliefs, attitudes and practices they see around them. They have the power to transform their communities.
At Plan International UK, we work with girls, boys and their communities to design projects that deliver just this.
Empowering girls through education and economic independence
Empowering girls through education and economic independence reduces forced marriage by giving them the knowledge, confidence, and resources to make their own life choices.
Education teaches girls about their rights, sexual and reproductive health, consent, and the consequences of early marriage. When girls stay in school longer, it often leads to later marriages and girls choosing who and when to marry.
When young women can earn an income, families are less likely to see marriage as their only option for financial security.
Longer term this can help to change societal norms as educated, economically independent women challenge stereotypes, advocate for the rights of women and girls and inspire their communities to value girls over marriage.
Donate to Fierce Voices
In every corner of the world, girls’ rights are under attack. Girls are told what they can and cannot do with their bodies. They face barriers that prevent them from attending school and becoming independent. They are told their voices don’t matter.
Fierce Voices is a global community of likeminded people who want to make the world a fair, safe and equal place for girls. When you sign up, your regular donations can support projects that empower girls and tear down barriers so they can reach their potential.
FAQs about forced marriage
Here are two frequently asked questions about forced marriage.
Why does forced marriage disproportionately affect girls?
Forced marriage affects girls more than boys due to gender bias and inequality, patriarchal norms, and social and cultural expectations.
Girls often have lower status than boys. Social and cultural traditions, attitudes and beliefs deny them their rights. In low-income families, a girl may be seen as a burden and pushed into marriage in order to reduce the pressure on the household to provide for the other members of the family.
In some countries, parents force their daughters into marriage early in order to preserve the family ‘honour’ and the girl’s virginity. Marriage is seen as a safeguard against any potential dishonour or inappropriate behaviour.
Humanitarian crises and conflicts increase instability and financial pressure on families. Marriage may be seen as a last resort, even for families who never would’ve considered child, early or forced marriage.
Can someone escape a forced marriage?
Yes, someone can escape a forced marriage, but often it is difficult and dangerous — especially without support. Being able to escape forced marriage depends on factors such as age, legal protection, access to support and resources, and community pressure.
Many countries have criminalised forced marriage so victims in those countries should seek help from the police, their embassy (if they are in a different country) contact a support organisation or child protection services (if the victim is under 18). In some countries, like the UK, there are specialist government units. In the UK, the Forced Marriage Unit has a telephone helpline to support victims and professionals who are dealing with cases.