51% Girls Married Before 18: UNICEF, UN Women and Plan International Depicts Global Scenario of Adolescent Girls’ Rights
Bangladesh continues to struggle with one of the world’s highest child marriage rates, with 51% of women aged 20-24 having been married before turning 18, according to a new report by UNICEF, UN Women, and Plan International. Titled “Girl Goals: What Has Changed for Girls? Adolescent Girls’ Rights Over 30 Years,” the report, released on International Women’s Day 2025, sheds light on persistent gender inequality and structural barriers that hinder girls’ empowerment in the country.
Despite Bangladesh’s legal efforts to curb child marriage, progress has been slow. The Child Marriage Restraint Act-2017 was a significant step, yet a loophole allowing ‘special cases’ has weakened its enforcement. This has left many adolescent girls vulnerable to early marriage, which remains a key barrier to their education, employment, and overall well-being.
The Cost of Child Marriage
Child marriage in Bangladesh is deeply linked to socio-economic and cultural factors. Poverty, social norms, and lack of education continue to drive families to marry off their daughters at a young age. This not only strips girls of their rights but also impacts their health, economic opportunities, and safety. According to the report, girls aged 15-24 in Bangladesh are twice as likely as boys to be out of school, unemployed, or not in any training programs. Only 59% of girls complete secondary education, and fewer than 2% receive digital skills training—limiting their chances of financial independence.
Early marriage also exposes girls to health risks, including early pregnancies and complications during childbirth. Sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) remain out of reach for many, increasing their vulnerability to domestic violence. Shockingly, 28% of girls aged 15-19 have experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner in the past year.
Voices for Change
Advocates are urging stronger actions to protect girls’ rights and create an enabling environment for their growth. Rana Flowers, UNICEF’s representative in Bangladesh, emphasised the need for systemic changes, stating, “The barriers that adolescent girls face in Bangladesh continue to hold them back from reaching their potential.” Similarly, Gitanjali Singh from UN Women stressed, “We need everyone to work together to protect girls’ rights.”
However, there is a silver lining. Bangladesh has made notable progress in public health, vaccinating 93% of girls against HPV to prevent cervical cancer. Life expectancy for girls has also risen to 79.1 years, an increase of 4.5 years in the last three decades. While these achievements signal positive strides, they do not negate the urgent need for policy reforms and better implementation of existing laws.
The Way Forward
To combat child marriage effectively, Bangladesh must enforce stricter legal measures, invest in girls’ education, and promote SRHR awareness. Economic empowerment programs, digital literacy training, and legal protections against gender-based violence are critical steps in ensuring a brighter future for young girls.
As Bangladesh moves forward, it must recognise that empowering adolescent girls is not just a moral obligation—it is a necessity for sustainable development. Without urgent action, millions of girls will continue to be deprived of their rights, trapped in cycles of poverty, violence, and lost opportunities.
Download “Girl Goals: What Has Changed for Girls?”
Source: Plan International
Picture Credit: Hasib Ahmed/Unsplash
