Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing
  • Login
  • GDPR
  • Create a Free Account
Return to PRWeb homepage
  • News
  • Resources
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All News Releases
      • Multimedia Gallery

      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos
  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation
      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News
      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Congressional & Presidential Campaigns
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • U.S. State Policy
      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • View All People & Culture

  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision PRWeb provides efficient communication tools to continuously engage with target audiences across multiple online channels
  • Create a Free Account
    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us


      11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday

  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR

Breakthrough's Nation Against Early Marriage Campaign Targets Fathers in India
  • USA - English


News provided by

Camino Public Relations

Sep 27, 2013, 12:20 ET

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX


Breakthrough’s study finds that early marriage, and the norms and beliefs that drive it, are deeply rooted in fears surrounding girls’ sexuality.

Post this

NEW YORK (PRWEB) September 27, 2013 -- Following two years of in-depth, on-the-ground research, global human rights group Breakthrough is announcing the launch of its Nation Against Early Marriage campaign in India and the distribution of its findings worldwide. Early marriage — defined for girls as marriage before the legal age of 18 — represents an early start to a series of human rights violations that affect girls and women throughout their lives. In India, which leads the world in early marriage, 25,000 girls a day are married with little or no say in the matter. Globally, 60 million girls have been forced to become brides. If trends continue, by 2020 50 million girls will be married before their 15th birthday.

Breakthrough’s campaign strategy emerged from the findings of its two-year study in the states of Bihar and Jharkhand, which -- despite wide awareness that the practice is illegal -- have among the highest incidence of early marriage in India. The study sought to explore the underlying motivators among communities, and to offer possible entry points for lasting change.

The economic and cultural drivers of early marriage are well-documented. Breakthrough’s study revealed an additional important motivator: Fathers — who make all the decisions regarding early marriage — see early marriage as a way to keep their daughters safe.

To be sure, as recent headlines from India can attest, fathers’ fears for their daughters’ safety are in part founded. But there’s more to it than that.

Breakthrough’s study finds that early marriage, and the norms and beliefs that drive it, are deeply rooted in fears surrounding girls’ sexuality.

Families marry daughters early not only to limit the burden of dowry – which increases as girls get older – but also, they believe, as a way of preventing premarital sex and pregnancy, or even forbidden platonic intermingling between the sexes. Such activities, or suspicions thereof, stand to bring lasting “shame” and “dishonor” to a girls’ family.

Parents also believe that marriage will protect girls from the very real risk of sexual harassment or assault. In the communities Breakthrough studied, marriage is the only acceptable space for male-female interaction. This taboo on even platonic contact means that girls and boys never explore healthy, mutual communication, respect, or sexuality. Result: consent issues, harassment, and related problems are more likely to arise. Indeed, in one community Breakthrough studied, a full 90 percent of girls reported that they regard the men in their lives as predators. This threat, real and perceived, leads to stricter controls -- as in marriage -- and perpetuates a vicious cycle.

Parents in the communities Breakthrough studied recognize that early marriage is illegal and, to some degree, that it is harmful, limiting girls’ opportunities and risking their health (as well as that of their own babies and children). Yet deeply rooted norms, biases, and traditions perpetuate the practice.

“Only when we normalize, value, and promote healthy communication and respect between the sexes can we break the cycles that perpetuate early marriage,” said Breakthrough VP and India country director Sonali Khan.

“The topic of girls’ sexuality is taboo – and that is the problem. It is our challenge to address it head on,” said Breakthrough president and CEO Mallika Dutt. “Only when we confront these deep norms and biases – which arise from the devaluing of women and girls -- can we break the cycle of early marriage. We need to work in and with communities to build a new model, one in which girls are not seen as risks or burdens, but as people with equal and intrinsic worth and rights. And for that, we need the partnership and leadership of those with the most power to seed change: fathers, and fathers-to-be.”

Numerous efforts to address early marriage focus on providing girls with education and skills. Breakthrough’s campaign aims to complement and expand on those initiatives. However, Breakthrough’s research also revealed that -- in the communities studied, and those like them -- such an approach requires nuance. In some cases, for example, education actually makes girls more marriageable.

Early marriage is a profound violation of the human rights of girls and represents a serious global crisis. Girls who are married early are cut off from educational opportunities and often suffer psychological trauma, domestic violence, high rates of mortality due to premature and continuous childbearing, and high rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The effects of these injustices can last a lifetime and can decimate the human capital of girls, families, communities and nations.

In other words, early marriage is anything but “safe.”

Breakthrough’s campaign and on-the-ground work seek to position men and young men as part of the solution. Says Dutt: “It is fathers who make the marriage decisions, with little or no input from wives or daughters. It is young men who will become those fathers. We must enable and empower them to go against the grain, to say, ‘In order to do what’s best for my daughter, I will not marry her early.’ Only then can we create an environment for change and trigger the cultural tipping point we need.”

Breakthrough also notes that changing the common terminology around the issue is key to making change. “Only when we say ‘early’ rather than ‘child’ marriage are we able to address and emphasize the full range and personhood of the young people affected by the practice,” Dutt said. “9-year olds are forced into marriage, but so are 17-year-olds. Rather than conflate or infantilize them, we must view them as a wide spectrum of young people with varying needs, developing desires, and emerging autonomy.”

Breakthrough’s campaign tools include street theater; mass and multi-media; human rights and leadership trainings for young people; celebrity spokespeople including Irrfan Khan (“Life of Pi,” “Slumdog Millionaire”), engagement with key stakeholders in community, state, and national government; and partnership with other local, national, international, and global groups addressing the issue. To hear how one young bride is fighting back, click here. To learn about how one mother is ensuring her daughter isn’t married early as she was, click here.

###

Breakthrough (http://www.breakthrough.tv) is a global human rights organization that uses the power of arts, media, pop culture, and community mobilization to inspire people to take bold action for dignity, equality, and justice. We work through centers in India and the U.S. to end violence and discrimination against women worldwide and promote human rights for all.

Erin White, Camino Public Relations, +1 (212) 255-2575, [email protected]

Modal title

Contact PRWeb

  • 11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday
  • Contact Us

About PRWeb

  • About PRWeb
  • Partners
  • Partnership Programs
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Resources

Why PRWeb

  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing

Accounts

  • Create a Free Account
  • Log in
  • Contact Us

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via [email protected] 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact Cision

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet
Cision Distribution Helpline
888-776-0942
  • Legal
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2025 Cision US Inc.