CHILD MARRIAGE IN HUMANITARIAN SETTINGS

Research shows that in areas of conflict, disasters and displacement, the incidence and risk of child, early and forced marriage is highly exacerbated. This is due to a number of factors including, but not limited to, an increase in insecurity and poverty, an increased risk of sexual and physical violence, the perception of increased protection of security through marriage, and the weakening of social networks.

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These realities drive very high levels of mental health conditions in these settings. Even without the additional factor of child marriage, survivors of violence have an increased risk of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

As current global health debates shift focus to mental health in these settings, it is important to simultaneously in crease our understanding of how child marriage exacerbates mental heath risks and experiences, and what modalities will enable us to respond to these needs in humanitarian contexts. 

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REPORTS & RESOURCES:

1. Child Marriage in Humanitarian Settings (Girls not Brides)

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2. WHO report on mental health in conflict settings

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