Tens of millions of children, women and men around the world experience contemporary forms of slavery – or modern slavery – often hidden in plain sight. Child marriage is a long-hidden form of exploitation that can constitute slavery.
Every year, 12 million girls marry or enter a union before the age of 18. Their experiences can amount to slavery and child marriage can operate as a guise for slavery with near impunity. One in four of those who experienced modern slavery in 2016 were girls under the age of 18. However, not all child marriage is slavery and adults are also subject to forced and servile marriage.
The exploitation and coercive control that are features of both child marriage and modern slavery cut across religions, cultures, regions and borders. Practices like these put girls around the world in situations of dependency, limiting their human rights, freedom and ability to act on their decisions (their agency).
Solutions should be context-driven and sensitive to the needs of the girl and the complexity of the issue.
Read the position paper to find out:
- What modern slavery and forced marriage are
- When child marriage is considered slavery
- The issues under debate
- Key recommendations
- Where to find out more