CHILD MARRIAGE AND FGM/C IN ETHIOPIA Yisak Tafere Lead Qualitative Researcher Young Lives Ethiopia

National Girl Summit 2015Data and Evidence Addis Ababa, Ethiopia June 25th, 2015

BACKGROUND• Young Lives, core funded by DFID and run by Oxford University, is

Childhood study over 15 years since 2001 in four countries: Ethiopia, India,

Peru and Vietnam

• In Ethiopia: 3000 children (2000 born in 2000/1 – younger cohorts; and

1000 born in 1994/95-older cohorts )

• Survey in 20 sites from Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, SNNPR, and Addis Ababa

• Qualitative in 5 five sites with 100 children (50 younger and 50 older

cohorts)

• 4 rounds of survey and qualitative studies carried out

• As the study follows the overall life experiences of children, Child Marriage

and FGM/C emerged as important issues

DATA

• The 2013 survey round 4 show

– 13% of the Survey girls married

by 19 and 9% have first child

• The 2011 and 2014 qualitative sub

studies

– 5 of the 15 girls from the Qual

study have married and have

their first child; 2 confirmed

FGC before marriage

MARRIAGE AND FERTILITY ACROSS THE 4 COUNTRIES

ONE IN SIX YOUNG WOMEN MARRIED BY AGE OF 19

Add

is A

baba

Am

hara

Oro

mia

SN

NP

Tig

ray

Rur

al

Urb

an

Bot

tom

Ter

cile

Top

Ter

cile

Region Place of residence

Tercile of wealth index

3

2124

7

10

19

8

21

3

FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES MATTER: MARRIAGE AS ESCAPE?

3 out of the 5 married case study children had lost their father and the fifth the father was not supporting the household. • Beletech was a double orphan living with her aunt; she

was overworked as the only girl, and eloped at 17.• Fatuma’s was living with her mother at her mother’s

aunt but they did not get along; getting married meant she could leave; her mother said she got married: To escape poverty and other problems

• Ayu’s father was a drunkard and was in conflict with her mother and did not support the family. Ayu was overworked and marriage meant a change

• Sesen married a man whom she knew in paid work in crusher plant; family informed and agreed; provided dowry and housing –

PARENTAL PRESSURE• Haymanot got married at 16 against her will since her

mother was ill and wanted to see her daughter married and

secure.

I asked my mother to stop negotiating with the elders. I begged

her to work and help her for some time up until she gets well. I

also asked her to delay the marriage as I was too young. But she

worried that she was getting very sick and she wanted to see my

marriage before something bad happened. Then, I said ok.

• At 17, she gave birth to first child, but soon divorced her

mother claimed the in-laws believed the marriage was

‘economically unmatched’ Currently, lives with poor mother

doing paid work.

WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED • Early marriage results from a complex interplay between community,

household and individual factors

• differences in prevalence in part related to urban-rural, regional variation as well as cultural practices

• Early marriage is clearly partly linked to poverty, but in addition to wealth, family circumstances notably parental death and illness matter.

• Early marriage is option to poor educational progression and paid work to support families.

• Marriage can also be an escape route from family pressures and overwork.

TRENDS OF CHANGE: MEDIAN OF FIRST MARRIAGE BY AGE 15 (CSA 2012)

8

16.3

22.7

28.6

31.1

37.139.4

18.917.4 16.6 16.4 15.8 15.6

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

15-19 20-24 24-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49

% married by fifteen median age at first marriage

CHANGES AND RESISTANCE • FORCES FO FORCES

FOR FORCES OF CHANGES

RESISTANCE TO CHANGE

• Strong advocacy (constitution,

laws, ..)

• more in urban areas state, media, NGOs

• Strong condemnation

• officials, women’s association

leaders,

• teachers, health workers

• Clear awareness of caregivers, girls and

boys

• Teaching in schools, health risks, aware

of penalties.

• wage labour; girls choices

• Caregivers concern pre-marital sex detrimental consequences

– Pregnancy, Abortion, child out of wedlock, break with parents and loss of their support and resources

• concern about voluntary abductions (elopement) (Oromia)

• Concern about girls’ schooling notably going to urban areas

• Suggestions age threshold be brought down to 16 girls

– sexually active and risks for good marriage, abortion….

PROMOTING CHANGE • Attitudinal Changes:

– Working with girls through schooling, clubs

– Changing attitudes of boys and men

– Working with parents and community leaders

• Addressing poverty:

– Options for girls who drop out of school.[most dropouts marry early]

– consider opportunities and constraints for adolescent girls in

education, employment and migration.

• Imposing legislation but may lead to clandestine practices with

increased health risks.