Worldwide, 12 million girls are forced into marriage every year. As an unexpected consequence of global warming, in certain regions of the world, environmental upheavals are leading to an increase in early and forced marriages.
At first glance, the link between climate change and early marriages may be surprising. American researchers from the public University of Ohio studied around twenty surveys carried out in recent years in Africa and South Asia. Their conclusions published this summer in International Social Work are clear: yes, climate change is leading to more early and forced marriages for young girls. That is to say, where the practice already exists, it is experiencing a great acceleration.
The bride’s dowry, a question of survival
Most of the time it is the prospect of the dowry that pushes the family to marry off its children. In rural areas, when floods or drought no longer allow the land to be cultivated, when drinking water runs out, entire villages plunge into extreme poverty or famine, obtain from the future spouse a little money or a head of cattle becomes a question of survival, quite simply, and what’s more, a girl who leaves is one less mouth to feed.
There is also, sometimes, the hope of bringing her into a wealthier family. In the Horn of Africa, where underage marriage is legal or tolerated, UNICEF notes that more and more poor families are marrying their 12-year-old daughters to 50- or 60-year-old men.
A phenomenon that we do not fully understand, says the organization, because girls remain silent for fear of being stigmatized or rejected by their community. Global warming also leads to significant population displacements and life in refugee camps makes girls more vulnerable.
In Ethiopia, +119% forced marriages after drought
Among the countries concerned, Ethiopia, which for two years has suffered the most serious drought in decades. According to UNICEF, in the most affected regions the number of marriages of girls under 18 increased by 119%.
In Bangladesh, in years when the heat wave lasts more than 30 days, the number of marriages among 11 – 14 year olds increases by 50%. Researchers observe the same thing to varying degrees in India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Kenya and Tanzania.
The chain consequences of forced marriage are dramatic for minors: early pregnancies (second cause of mortality among adolescents in the world), increased risk of excision and genital mutilation (sometimes compulsory in certain countries before marriage).
Immediate consequences
What is significant is that the impact of the extreme climatic event on the increase in forced marriages is immediate. Much faster than in a war or conflict situation for example. After a cyclone, when there is nothing left, neither house nor land, families can make their decision within a few weeks, or even a few days.
The United Nations Population Fund believes that in all cases, the only way to effectively curb forced marriages remains the schooling of young girls. Worldwide, 12 million girls, according to Plan, are forced into marriage each year: almost one every two seconds.