The Deputy for the Prevention of Social Harms at Iran's Welfare Organization announced that 17% of girls under 18 and 3% of girls under 15 get married in Iran. According to a report on Saturday, June 15, from the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA), Shirin Ahmadnia presented this information based on UNICEF statistics at a meeting titled 'Marriage at Young Ages.' In this meeting, Ms. Ahmadnia identified 'the expansion of family ties,' 'protection of girls,' and 'prevention of girls' involvement with sexual issues' as three important factors contributing to early marriage among girls in Iran. She stated that early marriage is more prevalent in communities where 'girls do not hold the same respect as boys and are often seen as an additional burden that needs to be disposed of as soon as possible.' 'Poverty and families' efforts to reduce costs' are other factors leading to early marriage in societies like Iran, which this official mentioned during the meeting. At this meeting, Taravat Mozaffarian, a member of the 'Imam Ali' Society, also spoke about the rise of 'widowed children,' noting that these children marry at the age of 12 and become widowed at ages 13 and 14. Ms. Mozaffarian added that these children 'face various mental health issues' and some of them 'lack identity documents.' According to her, 'the issue of early marriage is not only related to girls, as we sometimes witness boys marrying at a young age as well.' The social problem of child marriage has been a topic of discussion among civil activists, especially child rights advocates in Iran for many years. Last year, Shahindokht Molaverdi, Deputy for Women and Family Affairs under Hassan Rouhani, stated that the statistics on marriages of girls below the legal age in Iran are 'concerning.' In February 2016, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed 'deep concern' over reports of increasing forced marriages of young girls in Iran. According to Islamic law, the age of maturity is 9 years for girls and 15 years for boys. In 2012, a member of the board of the Judicial and Legal Commission of the Parliament stated that 'no registry office' in the country has the right to register marriages of 'girls under 10 years and boys under 15 years.'
In Iran, 17% of Girls Under 18 Get Married
A report reveals that 17% of girls under 18 in Iran are married, with significant implications for their rights and social status. The issue is exacerbated by poverty and societal norms that undervalue girls. This ongoing problem has drawn attention from civil rights activists and international organizations.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
A report revealed that 17% of girls under 18 in Iran are married, with 3% of girls under 15 also affected. Factors contributing to this trend include poverty, societal norms, and the undervaluation of girls.
- Islamic law sets the age of maturity at 9 years for girls and 15 years for boys.
- The issue of early marriage has been a longstanding concern among civil rights activists and international organizations.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Child marriage is a critical issue in many countries, often linked to poverty and gender inequality. In Iran, cultural norms and legal frameworks contribute to this ongoing problem.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%