Insights on Child Marriage Laws Enforcement in Rural Malawi

 
Perceptions of Enforcement of
Child Marriage Laws
in Rural Malawi
 
Andrea J. Melnikas and Sajeda Amin, Population
Council
Nancy Mulauzi and James Mkandawire, Invest in
Knowledge, Zomba Malawi
 
About half of women (49.6%) 20-24 report
being married by age 18
Malawi has the 9
th
 highest proportion of
women married under age 18
In 2017 the Malawian government formalized
laws to make marriage under age 18 illegal
(Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill)
 
Child Marriage in Malawi
 
Qualitative data collection conducted to inform
program activities for the More than Brides
Alliance project
Focus groups with
Married and unmarried adolescent girls
Parents of adolescent girls
In-depth interviews with:
Married and unmarried adolescent girls
Community members including government officials,
police officers, child protection officers, and program
staff
 
Data Collection in Malawi
 
Marriage Withdrawal
 
Marriage withdrawal is the process of
removing a married girl from her marital
home
NGOs and/or local government officials are often
involved in child protection committees that
participate in these withdrawals
Marriages may be annulled
Girls are encouraged to go back to school
No data exist on how common this practice is in
Malawi
 
Adults View Marriage Withdrawal
More Positively than Adolescents
 
It has really helped in terminating child marriages of
which we had so many. I remember there is a family
in this village, we told them that if they refuse to
terminate their marriage, we would take them in
police custody and they paid 6000.00 kwacha fine
at police and the child went back to school.
Therefore, it shows that the program has really
helped in our village.
-In-depth interview with male government official,
Nkhata Bay
 
Girls See Both Negatives and Positives
to Withdrawal
 
I
 
:  What happens to a girl after she is withdrawn from a
marriage or divorce?
R:
 
Others they go back to school again, others they start
small business like selling doughnuts, while others they
start to look for work
I: 
 
What does her life look like?
R:
 
When the girls back people in the community start to
mock her, while others encourage her to go back to school
 
-In-depth interview with unmarried girl, Mangochi
 
Unintended Consequences of
Minimum Age at Marriage Law
 
Marriages are driven underground
Marriages are “too little, too late” especially
for girls already pregnant or who have a child
from that marriage
Withdrawals may inadvertently disadvantage
offspring from that marriage
 
 
Possible Program and Policy Responses
 
Focus on prevention of child marriage rather than
curative approaches
If withdrawals will still occur what does a
withdrawn girl need to succeed?
Minimum “package” provided to girls to help the
transition
In educating communities about the law, focus on
the reason for the law (e.g., value of girls)
Remove fines associated with child marriage that
may encourage practices like withdrawal
 
For more information:
https:// morethanbrides.org
@MTBA_Child_Marr
 
Thank you to my coauthors:
Sajeda Amin- Population Council
Nancy Mulauzi and James Mkandawire -
Invest in Knowledge
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Research explores perceptions and enforcement of child marriage laws in Malawi, highlighting marriage withdrawal initiatives and community attitudes. Qualitative data collection informs strategies to combat child marriage, with contrasting views among adults and adolescents on the practice's impact.


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  1. Perceptions of Enforcement of Child Marriage Laws in Rural Malawi Andrea J. Melnikas and Sajeda Amin, Population Council Nancy Mulauzi and James Mkandawire, Invest in Knowledge, Zomba Malawi

  2. Child Marriage in Malawi About half of women (49.6%) 20-24 report being married by age 18 Malawi has the 9thhighest proportion of women married under age 18 In 2017 the Malawian government formalized laws to make marriage under age 18 illegal (Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill)

  3. Data Collection in Malawi Qualitative data collection conducted to inform program activities for the More than Brides Alliance project Focus groups with Married and unmarried adolescent girls Parents of adolescent girls In-depth interviews with: Married and unmarried adolescent girls Community members including government officials, police officers, child protection officers, and program staff

  4. Marriage Withdrawal Marriage withdrawal is the process of removing a married girl from her marital home NGOs and/or local government officials are often involved in child protection committees that participate in these withdrawals Marriages may be annulled Girls are encouraged to go back to school No data exist on how common this practice is in Malawi

  5. Adults View Marriage Withdrawal More Positively than Adolescents It has really helped in terminating child marriages of which we had so many. I remember there is a family in this village, we told them that if they refuse to terminate their marriage, we would take them in police custody and they paid 6000.00 kwacha fine at police and the child went back to school. Therefore, it shows that the program has really helped in our village. -In-depth interview with male government official, Nkhata Bay

  6. Girls See Both Negatives and Positives to Withdrawal I: What happens to a girl after she is withdrawn from a marriage or divorce? R: Others they go back to school again, others they start small business like selling doughnuts, while others they start to look for work I: What does her life look like? R: When the girls back people in the community start to mock her, while others encourage her to go back to school -In-depth interview with unmarried girl, Mangochi

  7. Unintended Consequences of Minimum Age at Marriage Law Marriages are driven underground Marriages are too little, too late especially for girls already pregnant or who have a child from that marriage Withdrawals may inadvertently disadvantage offspring from that marriage

  8. Possible Program and Policy Responses Focus on prevention of child marriage rather than curative approaches If withdrawals will still occur what does a withdrawn girl need to succeed? Minimum package provided to girls to help the transition In educating communities about the law, focus on the reason for the law (e.g., value of girls) Remove fines associated with child marriage that may encourage practices like withdrawal

  9. For more information: https:// morethanbrides.org @MTBA_Child_Marr Thank you to my coauthors: Sajeda Amin- Population Council Nancy Mulauzi and James Mkandawire - Invest in Knowledge

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