Child Marriage in India Socio-Legal and Human Rights Dimensions

It shows how child marriage violates every human right to which a child is entitled : the right to health, to education, to equality, to liberty and security of the person and of course the right to make a free and informed choice of a spouse. The book focusses in particular on the devastating effects of such marriages on the health and development of the girl child. It shows how the practice of child marriage reinforces the basic problem of low levels of health, and education among women. It also contains a powerful critique of the state of the law, the lacunae in it as well as the confusions,contradictions, and lack of gender sensitivity inherent in the provisions of various statutes dealing with the age of marriage, the age of consent, and the validity of marriage. The author has given significant suggestions as to actions which can be taken by interested persons and NGOs tochallenge and change the existing situation."Using the methodology of feminist legal analysis, this book makes a major contribution to the scholarship on child marriage. It examines domestic law in the context of international human rights law, and shows how this custom violates every human right to which a child is entitled, including the right to health, education, equality, liberty, and security of person, and of course, the right to make a free and informed choice of a spouse. The role of civil society in challenging the status quo is also highlighted." "Addressing a significant social evil, this book is important for scholars of law and gender studies, as well as sociologists, activists, and NGO's working with children and women."--BOOK JACKET. Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved