How to address forced marriage

Assignment
on
Forced Marriage: How to address forced marriage

Submitted to:
Md. Sanaul Haque Mondal
Assistant Professor
Department of Social Relations

GEN 214: Introduction to Development Studies

Spring’23 Semester

Submitted by:
Md. Akib Al-Mas
Student Id: 2020-3-10-043

East West University

Introduction
Forced marriage occurs when an individual, regardless of their age, has been forced to marry without her or his
consent. There are three types of forced marriages: forced marriages of adults, child marriages, and marriages
for trafficking. According to a report by the UN, which said that Bangladesh is among the countries where the
COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased risk of forced marriages. (OHCHR, 2023) The report noted that
the interruption of official statistics collection, including civil registration systems, during the pandemic, has
contributed to this increased risk. The report also states that nearly two-thirds of all forced marriages, an
estimated 14.2 million people, are in Asia and the Pacific, and Bangladesh is located in this region. (PTI, 2022)
A scenario involving forced marriage in Bangladesh might involve a young girl who is being pressured by her
family to marry someone against her will. This pressure may come from cultural or societal expectations,
economic factors, or family pressures. The girl may not have the power to say no to the marriage or may fear
repercussions if she does. (ওয়ািসফ, ২০২২)

A Case of Forced Marriage: Hat-trick Daughter Swarlika Parveen and Teammates

Background: Bansjani Government Primary School comes under a small village - Bansjani, Bhurungamari
upazila of Kurigram district, Bangladesh. In 2017, the school formed a football team, which participated in the
Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Government Primary School Gold Cup and reached the national level.
The team was captained by Swarlika Parveen, who won the best player award of the tournament from Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina. (হাসান, 2022) Despite her success, Swarlika was forced to marry at the age of 16. In
total seven girls of the football team, were married off before reaching the legal age of marriage, ending their
dreams of pursuing their passion for football. (Khan, ২০২৩)
Analysis: The forced marriage of underage girls is a serious violation of their human rights. It deprives them of
their right to education, health, and protection from harm. It also perpetuates gender inequality and reinforces
harmful social norms that restrict girls' autonomy and agency. The case of the Bansjani football team highlights
the importance of empowering girls and women to make their own decisions about their lives, including their
education and marriage. In the case of these football players, the marriages led to the end of their football careers
and early parenthood, which can adversely affect their health and well-being.
Forced marriage is a complex and challenging issue that requires a sustained, multi-faceted approach, this
requires the commitment and collaboration of stakeholders at all levels, from the global to the local.
(UNWOMEN, 2011) Furthermore, the case highlights the lack of support and resources available to resists
forced marriages in Bangladesh.

How to Address Forced Marriage

Addressing forced marriage requires a comprehensive approach that involves multiple stakeholders, including
governments, civil society organizations, communities, and individuals. Here are some possible ways to address
forced marriage:
Approach 01: Safety Net for Women
Not criminalize forced marriage as a separate criminal code offense as no one would want to put their family in
jail. On the other hand, it would create stigma and push victims underground.
Instead, the solution proposed is public education and a safety net for women fleeing attempted forced
marriages. This includes putting money into counseling services, and insisting shelters accept young women
escaping attempted forced marriages. The assurance of social housing as women fleeing family violence should
also consider the fact that women may have fears for safety, feelings of general emotional distress as well as
anxieties about the future.
Approach 02: Engaging men and boys
Engaging men and boys in addressing forced marriage can be an effective way to change attitudes and behaviors
towards the issue. Men and boys can be educated on the negative effects of forced marriage on girls and women,
and how they can play a role in ending the practice.
Additionally, the youth can play a vital role in preventing forced marriages. Providing them with education and
training on human rights, gender equality, and advocacy which can equip them with the knowledge and skills
to challenge and prevent the issue.
Approach 03: Providing Livestock
Let's allow girls to grow into women before we force them to become a wife or a mother. Providing a girl as
well as her family with a calf of cow goat or a sheep for refusing to marry off an underaged daughter might help
parents stand firm on that decision. In certain cultures and communities, this provision of livestock can mean
the difference in the survival and longevity of a family.
Providing this much-needed resource to a family trapped by poverty gives them more options, including
refusing to marry off underaged daughters.
Approach 04: Sponsoring Underprivileged Girls and Families
Sponsoring a child of underprivileged and vulnerable communities in order to break the cycle of violence,
poverty, and illiteracy can be an effective one. Donating a small amount of money each month to a child with
an organization like Privileged for Underprivileged, even local organizations like Odommo Kurigram can help
girls who are vulnerable to child marriage. Undoubtedly education is one of the greatest preventatives of child
marriage and studies have proven that the longer a girl stays in school, the less likely she is to marry or become
an underaged mother.
By sponsoring a girl child each month, you can help pay for their school fees and help her get the education she
needs to avoid child marriage and to map her own path in life.
Approach 05: Raising Awareness through Journalists, Artists, and Activists
Raising awareness about child marriage is crucial because it has been a long-standing issue that has been kept
hidden for centuries, and public attention is necessary to end the suffering of young girls and their human rights
violations. One approach to addressing the issue is by supporting and promoting the work of journalists, artists,
photographers, and activists who highlight the situation of child brides.
For instance, Stephanie Sinclair is a photographer who began capturing images of child brides more than nine
years ago with the aim of bringing attention to the lives of young girls forced into marriage. Her work has
received global recognition and has been utilized as a conversation-starter about child marriage. (Olson, 2022)
Approach 06: Engage the Community
Community engagement is essential to addressing forced marriage. Community leaders, religious leaders, and
other influential figures can play a key role in raising awareness, promoting prevention, and providing support
to victims and their families. This can include working with schools, faith-based organizations, and community-
based groups to promote positive social norms and behavior change.
Engaging in dialogue with families, community leaders, and religious leaders can help to understand the root
causes of forced marriage and identify solutions. Creating safe spaces for open and honest dialogue can facilitate
a better understanding of the impact of forced marriage on individuals and communities.
Approach 07: The Government’s Approach
Governments can enact laws and policies that don’t criminalize forced marriages but provide protection and
support for underprivileged children as well as victims. Creating education and skill-based training can promote
education and skill-based training for underprivileged children, particularly girls. This can include programs to
improve literacy rates, vocational training, and other skill-building initiatives.
Organize regular medical campaigns to promote the health and well-being of girls and women. These campaigns
can include information and services related to reproductive health, hygiene, and nutrition as well as provide
financial incentives to girls and their families to encourage them to pursue education and careers. These
incentives can include merit scholarships, sports player allowances, and other forms of support.

Support centers in every word of City Corporation, Municipality, and Union Parisad run by University or
Undergrad Students: Youth are the most courageous, especially when it needs to work against the flow.
University or undergraduate students can engage with young people at the grassroots level and reach out to
more victims of forced marriages. So, they can provide support services for victims of forced marriages,
including legal assistance, and protection from violence. This would increase the effectiveness of the initiative
in preventing and addressing forced marriages.

Conclusion
Forced marriage requires a multifaceted approach that involves education, community engagement, and
providing resources and support to those affected by this issue. Each approach must offer unique solutions that
can be implemented in different cultural contexts to achieve the desired outcome. Overall, a collaborative effort
among the Government, NGOs, and the Community is necessary to raise awareness, promote prevention, and
provide support to victims and their families to end the practice of forced marriage.
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