More than 20,000 girl children are married or cohabiting

There are more than 20,780 girl children between the ages of 12 and 17 in Sri Lanka who are married or in cohabiting relationships before they reach adulthood, according to UNICEF’s Child Marriage Baseline Estimate 2015
 
Meanwhile, 5.3 percent of all registered pregnancies are teenage pregnancies, according to the Family Health Bureau. These statistics were emphasized in a joint letter signed by over 50 UN agencies, NGOs, doctors, academics and others. It was and presented today by UNICEF and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to Women and Child Affairs Minister Chandrani Bandara to commemorate International Day of the Girl Child.  

The letter called child marriage a "grave violation of human rights". "Not only does it negatively impact the education of girls, evidence shows that girls who marry or cohabit at a young age lack the power of decision making in sexual and reproductive matters, including family planning," it said. "They are at a high risk of maternal and reproductive health problems which include complications in pregnancy or childbirth and other long term health challenges. They are also more likely to experience domestic violence, including grave sexual abuse.  "
 
The signatories called on the Government to produce a national legal framework in line with the requirements of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) regarding the age of marriage and to ensure that these laws are fully enforced to ensure the rights of girls across the nation. They asked the Government to address the root causes of child marriage and teenage pregnancy and to create alternative social, economic and civic opportunities for girls and their families be created. They urged the strengthening of support services, and the enhancement of advocacy to ensure increased awareness among girls, their families and communities on the effects of child marriage and teenage pregnancy on sexual and reproductive health.

Caption: From left to right:  Alain Sibenaler, UNFPA Representative in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Minister of Women and Child Affairs Hon. Chandrani Bandara, 21 year old advocate Dayani and Paula Bulancea, UNICEF Representative a.i. in Sri Lanka.