Child marriage in Democratic Republic of the Congo

Child Marriage in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is common. Child marriage is the act of marrying before the age of 18 years old. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has the 18th highest rate of child marriage in the world.[1] As of 2020, 37% of girls were married before the age of 18 years old, and 10% of girls were married before they turned 15.[1] It is said that roughly one third of the women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo marry early, or before the age of 18.[2] Though significantly less than the rate of child marriage for girls, 6% of boys in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are married before they reach 18 years of age.[1]

Even though child marriage is prevalent, the legal age of marriage in the country is eighteen.[1] In terms of international laws, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of seven countries in the African Union to have signed but not ratified the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC).[3] The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child explicitly prohibits the act of child marriage or betrothals.

Parents often force their children into marriages in order to gain financial and social benefits. However, children subjected to child marriage often face difficulty pursuing education and development due to the household roles they adopt at a young age. Child marriage may exacerbate underlying health issues and severely entrench populations in cycles of deprivation.[4]

Location of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Minimum Age of Marriage for Girls Around the World

Laws and traditions

National

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has laws against child marriage. In Article 40 of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, people have the right to marry the person of their choice.[5] The Family Code defines marriage as an act between a man and a woman of legal age in which both people consent.[5] The legal age of marriage in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is 18.[1] The law also specifically prohibits children from marrying.[5] However, the Family Code also requires the husband to pay a dowry to the family of the bride.[5] The dowry helps uphold child marriage in the country, particularly in rural areas due to the financial benefits that brides' families gain when they marry their daughters young.[5]

International

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has signed and ratified The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), but not ACRWC. The CEDAW prohibits child marriage. The Democratic Republic of the Congo signed CEDAW on July 17, 1980 and ratified it on October 17, 1986.[6] However, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has signed but not ratified the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC).[3]

Traditions

For some tribes, child marriage is a tradition.

Regional differences

Rural

Child marriage in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is more common in rural areas.[2] Rural areas sustained levels of child marriage at 11.6% before the age of 15, and 37.3% before the age of 18.[7] For example, in the province of Kwilu, some tribes have a tradition of child marriage, such as the Yansi tribe.[8] More generally, rural areas of a country have higher rates of child marriage because families are relieved of their obligation to sustain and provide the necessary living conditions of the child that they marry off, particularly in terms of sustenance.[9]

Urban

In contrast, Kinshasa, the capital of the country, has the lowest rate of child marriage.[7] Urban areas sustained levels of child marriage at 7.3% before the age of 15, and 24.8% before the age of 18.

Causes

Teenage pregnancy

One reason for forced marriage is teenage pregnancy. When young girls become pregnant, their parents often force them to marry the fathers of their children and collect the dowries that are produced out of the consuming of the marriage.[8]

Poverty

Poverty is another reason girls are forced into child marriages. The family of the bride collects money from the groom’s family when their daughter is married off.[7] Often, early marriages exacerbate the cycle of poverty because young boys are unable to provide for their new wives and children.[8]

Effects

Overall effects

Children in child marriages have more difficulty developing, pursuing education, and growing wealth. Additionally, they have higher labor force participation.[2]

Impact on girls

Child marriage in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is more prevalent among girls.

See also

References
  1. Brides, Girls Not. "Atlas". Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  2. Malé, Chata (March 2016). "BASIC PROFILE OF CHILD MARRIAGE IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO" (PDF). World Bank.
  3. Maswikwa, Belinda; Richter, Linda; Kaufman, Jay; Nandi, Arijit (2015). "Minimum Marriage Age Laws and the Prevalence Of Child Marriage and Adolescent Birth: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa". International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. 41 (2): 58–68. doi:10.1363/4105815. ISSN 1944-0391.
  4. "Early Marriage: A traditional harmful practice - A statistical exploration". UNICEF DATA. 2015-10-22. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
  5. "Social Institutions & Gender Index" (PDF). OECD. 2019.
  6. "Treaty bodies Treaties". tbinternet.ohchr.org. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
  7. "Responses to Information Requests-Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada".
  8. "Dimitra Newsletter" (PDF).
  9. Walker, Judith-Ann (2012). "Early Marriage in Africa — Trends, Harmful Effects and Interventions". African Journal of Reproductive Health / La Revue Africaine de la Santé Reproductive. 16 (2): 231–240. ISSN 1118-4841.
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