### Child Marriage: A Persistent Crisis in the Shadow of Global Upheaval
Every day, the world faces a tragic toll: a girl child is forced into marriage every three seconds. While voices are raised against this barbaric practice, the data show an alarming reality: 650 million women today live with the consequences of being married before the age of 18. This issue raises more than cries of alarm; it requires a deep reflection on the systemic causes established in societies around the globe. By examining this phenomenon through the lens of crises and extremes, we discover not only challenges, but also unexpected paths.
#### A Culture of Onomastics and Persistent Inequality
Child marriage, deeply rooted in cultural traditions and social norms, often transcends geographical boundaries. In some societies, a name given to a woman is often synonymous with property, considering her less as a person than as an economic asset. This phenomenon of “onomasticism” embedded in cultural mores makes visible the struggle between prejudices and fundamental rights. In Africa, for example, girls are often married to alleviate economic burdens in a context of acute poverty. However, economic rating systems, often put forward by NGOs, seem to fail to restore the dignity of these girls.
#### Systemic crises: Covid-19, climate and conflict
The triptych of crises – Covid-19, humanitarian crises and climate change – exacerbates this phenomenon in an alarming way. The coronavirus pandemic has plunged many families into unprecedented economic precarity, leading to a reversal of the small gains made in girls’ rights. Indeed, according to a UNICEF report, 10 million girls could be forced into marriage as a result of the coronavirus crisis by 2030.
Climate change, for its part, is not just one cause among others, but a powerful catalyst for early marriage. Its effects on food security, such as crop failure caused by extreme weather events, force families to protect themselves from poverty through strategies considered “pragmatic”, such as marrying off their daughters. This phenomenon, which could be described as a “survival strategy”, is not only a question of individual choice, but results from a perverse economic logic where one cost (a child to feed) is replaced by another (a dowry).
#### The political element: between retrogression and progress
The international political landscape also plays a crucial role in this dynamic. Legislative decisions, such as the controversial project in Iraq to lower the age of marriage, illustrate this disconcerting reality where professional advances can be quickly wiped out. However, it is possible to see an opposite effect in other scenarios; countries like Sierra Leone, which have enacted laws prohibiting child marriage, are introducing structural changes in the perception of this phenomenon.
Moreover, these movements towards the typical eradication of child marriage are accompanied by a shared opportunity; the importance of inclusive education. Studies show that increasing access to education for girls significantly reduces rates of early marriage. However, access to education must be combined with economic and psychosocial supports. For example, initiatives such as scholarships and mentoring programs for young girls can give a voice and a future to children affected by these practices.
#### A reflection on global solidarity
It is crucial to question the role of the international community and developed states in this fight. By acting decisively to establish adequate funding and programs for alternatives to forced marriage, the global community could provide much-needed support. It is essential to recognize that until local contexts are considered individually, and awareness-raising efforts are rooted in local culture, solutions risk remaining superficial.
Innovative initiatives at the local level can also contribute to the eradication of child marriage, such as pandemic education through art and music, or interactive theater to raise awareness among communities about the consequences of forced marriage. It is imperative to listen to the voices of young girls themselves, who become actors of their own destiny rather than victims of outdated norms.
### Conclusion: Towards a new awareness
The problem of child marriage cannot be understood in isolation, it is intrinsically linked to deep economic, social and political realities. The fight to eradicate this ancestral practice requires a long-term commitment from all stakeholders, combining traditional knowledge and social innovations. The tragic figures we observe must no longer remain statistics of an indifferent society. On the contrary, each decision, each law and each voice raised must remind us of the need to create a world where every young girl is free to choose her path