Early Marriage: A Violation of Girls' Fundamental Human Rights in Africa

This article examines the practice of child marriage in various African countries. The author argues that child marriage is a fundamental violation of women's human rights including the right to life, education, non-discrimination, freedom from degrading, inhumane and cruel treatment and protection from harmful cultural practices. The article examines the relevant international human rights treaties which have been ratified by African countries in regards to women's human rights. There is special focus on Niger, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Egypt which have some of the highest rates of early marriage worldwide. Moreover, in addition to analyzing the consequences of these marriages, the author also suggests policies which could be implemented to decrease the rate of child marriages. These policies include: increasing the minimum legal marriage age for girls, implementing public awareness campaign regarding the consequences of early marriage and promoting education for girls as a smart investment for families.