Title Page
ABSTRACT
Contents
ABBREVIATION 11
CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION 13
1.1. Introduction 13
1.2. Aims and Objectives of the Study 16
1.3. Research Methodology 17
1.4. Structure of Dissertation 17
CHAPTER II: GENERAL OVERVIEW AND CULTURE OF CHILD MARRIAGE 19
2.1. General Overview 19
2.1.1. The Legal Definition of Child 19
2.1.2. The Notion of Childhood 21
2.1.3. The Concept of Child Marriage 26
2.2. The Culture of Child Marriage 28
2.2.1. Child Marriage around the world 28
2.2.2. Customary Law Related to Child Marriage 32
2.3. Conclusion 38
CHAPTER III: LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AGAINST CHILD MARRIAGE 40
3.1. International Human Rights Standards 40
3.1.1. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) 40
3.1.2. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and the Work of the Human Rights Committee (HRC) 42
3.1.3. The Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices 45
3.1.4. The Convention on the Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriage (The Marriage Convention) 47
3.1.5. The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Protection and Child Pornography 50
3.1.6. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) 56
3.1.7. The United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (The Palermo Protocol) 57
3.2. Regional Human Rights Standards 58
3.2.1. The African Charter on Human and People's Rights (Banjul Charter) 58
3.2.2. The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of a Child (ACRWC) 60
3.2.3. The Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa to the African Charter on Human and People's Rights (The Maputo Protocol) 62
3.2.4. The South African Development Community Protocol on Gender and Development 63
3.3. Conclusion 64
CHAPTER IV: CASE STUDY: CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF CHILD MARRIAGE IN MALAWI 67
4.1. Causes and Consequences of Child Marriage in Malawi 68
4.1.1. Causes of Child Marriage in Malawi 68
4.1.2. Consequences of Child Marriage in Malawi 77
4.2. The Legal Framework Governing the Protection of the Child 82
4.2.1. The Constitution of Malawi 83
4.2.2. The National Registration Act of 2009 87
4.2.3. The Child Care, Protection and Justice Act 2010 89
4.2.4. Gender Equality Act No. 3 of 2013 91
4.2.5. The Education Act of 2015 92
4.2.6. Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Act of 2015 94
4.3. Relevant Policies and National Plans of Action 97
4.3.1. The National Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Policy 98
4.3.2. The National Girls Education Strategy (NGES) 99
4.4. Enforcement Challenges 101
4.5. Conclusion 103
CHAPTER V: RECOMMENDATIONS 105
5.1. Fostering an Enabling Legal and Policy Framework 106
5.1.1. Enacting Malawian Child Marriage Prohibition Bill 107
5.1.2. Standardizing Existing Laws 121
5.2. Empowering Girls through Education 122
5.2.1. Empowering Girls with Information, Skills, and Support Networks 122
5.2.2. Improving Girls' Access to Quality Formal Education 123
5.3. Mobilizing Families and Communities 123
5.3.1. Changing of Attitude and Behavior Related to Child Marriage 123
5.3.2. Increasing the Use of Media to Inform and Support Norm Change to End Child Marriage 125
5.4. Providing Services 126
5.4.1. Increase Access to Health Service for Adolescent Girls, Married and Unmarried Girls 126
5.4.2. Improving Economic Security for Girls and Their Family 127
5.5. Conclusion 128
CHAPTER VI: CONCLUSION 130
REFERENCES 137
ANNEX 158