Bangladesh - Giving up Harmful Practices

Recently, Bangladesh (a small country in South Asia) to which previously was taking actions in order to prevent child marriage and teenage pregnancy, has passed a law in order to make it easier for girls under the age of 18 to marry. This, as expected has been a highly controversial topic and has gotten a ton of media attention in western countries.

One reason as to why the western countries should attempt to have this law reversed is due to the mental, physical and social implications that can come from marrying at a young age. According to UNICEF, child marriage is overly harmful to many of the girls involved seeing as it essentially takes both their childhood and future away from them. As well, as putting them at risk of sexual abuse, and isolating them from their friends and family. That being said, if this form of relationship was described to any educated individual, they would recognise the characteristics of the relationship as being that of an abusive one. Seeing as though the Center for relationship abuse organization describes an abusive relationship as being “emotional, financial, sexual or physical and can include threats, isolation, and intimidation. Abuse tends to escalate over time. When someone uses abuse and violence against a partner, it is always part of a larger pattern of control.”

Using the above definition, it goes to show how the new laws placed in Bangladesh should be changed in order to protect the mental and physical well being of their countries children.

Another reason is seeing as it is in many ways a violates many different declarations set forth by the united nations. For example, Article 3 of the Conventions of the Rights of a child (3) document states “In all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.” When looking at this article into accordance with child marriage, it shows that child marriage is a clear violation of article 3 seeing as though the best interests of a child are not even being taken into consideration. When entering a child marriage, the child is more times than not subject to isolation, mental trauma, sexual abuse, and loss of education and future opportunities (Seeing as though most child brides do not continue with schooling once married) all of which are clearly not an ideal, or healthy situation for someone of that age to be living in.

Another reason as to why western countries should place pressure on Bangladesh to change and or reverse this new law is because the Universal Declaration of human rights was in fact put in place for a reason and is ultimately meant to apply to everyone, while in this case it is in fact not. This is because young girls in this case, are being discriminated against due to their gender and being forced into something to which