NIGER  (®TEBU

 

 

 

IndexAfricaNiger

 


Niger was alleged to have the highest percentage of girls married before age 18 in the world (82%; Demographic Health Surveys, 1996-2001)[1]. In another source[2], the percentage of girls aged 15-19 in selected countries who are already married was 70% (Niger second after Congo). “In Niger, early marriage can be defined as ‘marriage contracted before, but not after the age of 13’ (Dejean, I, cited in IAC, 1984)[3]”. According to a 1994 source[4] female median age at first marriage was 15.

 

 


 

 

 

Janssen, D. F., Growing Up Sexually. Volume I. World Reference Atlas. 0.2 ed. 2004. Berlin: Magnus Hirschfeld Archive for Sexology

Last revised: Oct. 2004

 



[1] As cited in International Center for Research on Women (nd) ICRW Policy Advisory on child marriage, p2 [http://www.icrw.org/photoessay/pdfs/childmarriage0803.pdf]; Plan Nederland (2004) Niger: uitbannen kinderhuwelijk begint met bewustwording, Nieuwsbrief Plan Nederland[Dutch] No. 9 July 2004 [http://www.plannederland.nl/pdfs/nieuwsbriefop9]

[2] UNICEF: Child marriages must stop. UN Children's Fund, 7 Mar 2001 [http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/0/db6a50e2fe03301185256a090059eacf?OpenDocument]

[3] As cited in Forum on Marriage and the Rights of Women and Girls (May 2000) Early Marriage: Whose Right to Choose? Mission Statement, p6 [http://www.crin.org/docs/resources/publications/WhoseRighttoChoose.pdf / http://www.eenet.org.uk/key_issues/gender/emarriage_choose.pdf / http://www.eenet.org.uk/key_issues/gender/emarriage_choose.doc]

[4] DHS Survey, 1994 cited in Progress of Nations, 1998, as cited in Forum on Marriage and the Rights of Women and Girls, op.cit.