UNICEF: More than 45 percent of girls in South Asia married by 18

NEW YORK, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- A United Nations report released Thursday reveals the world's highest incidence of child brides is in South Asia, despite laws in most countries setting the legal age of marriage at 18.

"Almost half of all girls in South Asia (46 percent) marry before the age of 18. One in five girls (18 percent) are married before the age of 15. These are the highest rates in the world."

The statistics are among the latest compiled by the U.N. Children's Fund in its study entitled "Improving Children's Lives, Transforming the Future -- 25 years of child rights in South Asia."

"Far too many children get married," said Karin Hulshof, regional director for UNICEF in South Africa.

According to the findings, "child marriage is rooted in social norms," and more prevalent in families who are poor, living in rural areas, or uneducated.

"Unequal gender norms value boys and men higher than girls and women, so families and communities invest less in girls' education and development. Poverty is a major factor -- girls are seen as an economic burden, so poor families prefer to invest their meagre resources in the education of their sons; poor parents may also believe that marriage will secure a good future for their daughter. The customs of bride price and dowry may also provide financial incentives for child marriage."

In order to reverse the trend, UNICEF's report suggests:

-- Ensuring legislation stipulates the age of consent for marriage is 18; enforcement of those laws; improved birth and marriage registration systems; -- Equal access to education to eliminate gender gaps; -- Provide economic support and incentives for families to educate their girls; -- Increase awareness of discriminatory gender norms; mobilize community leaders to create new, positive norms; -- Empower girls through information, skill development, and support networks to protect their rights and ensure their active participation in community development.

"The good news," Hulshof remarked on the 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, "is that we have the know how and innovative approaches to make positive changes in the lives of children in South Asia."