The article, "Child Marriages: A Global and Local Crisis," defines child marriage as a formal or informal union where one or both parties are under 18 years old. It emphasizes that this practice viola

Here's a summary of the provided article on child marriage, highlighting key points relevant to a literature review on addressing the protection of children's rights: The article, "Child Marriages: A Global and Local Crisis," defines child marriage as a formal or informal union where one or both parties are under 18 years old. It emphasizes that this practice violates international agreements, such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and has devastating effects on individuals, families, and societies. Globally, the statistics are stark: UNICEF estimates that 650 million girls and women alive today were married before the age of 18. Approximately 12 million girls are married annually before reaching adulthood, equating to 23 girls every minute. Progress in ending child marriage is slow, with projections indicating it could take 300 years to eradicate the practice at the current rate. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest prevalence at 34%, with Niger recording the highest national rate at 76%. South Asia accounts for nearly half of all child brides worldwide, with India alone having 223 million child brides. In South Africa, the problem persists, though at a lower rate than global averages. The 2016 Demographic and Health Survey found that 6% of women aged 20-24 were married before 18. The highest rates are observed in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Limpopo, often linked to poverty and rural settings. While girls are predominantly affected, boys also face child marriage, though at a significantly lower rate (1 in 30 young men globally compared to 1 in 5 young women). The word cloud associated with the article further highlights the multifaceted consequences and contributing factors of child marriage, including Poverty, lack of Education, Violence, Inequality, violations of Human Rights, lack of Protection, Trauma, Pregnancy, and Conflict. These elements underscore the complex challenges in protecting children's rights in contexts where child marriage is prevalent.