Peer-reviewed article

Forensic Medical Perspective On Child Brides and Child Marriages

Ali Yıldırım, Nermin Malkoçoğlu, Fatma YÜCEL BEYAZTAŞ · 1 Nov 2024

Abstract

There are many definitions on the concept of “child” from past to present. According to the generally accepted view, individuals under the age of 18 are considered as “children” and marriages before the age of 18 are considered as “child marriages”, while girls married before the age of 18 are considered as “child brides”. The reality of child brides continues to increase as a global problem in our country and in many countries of the world. Early marriages performed without the informed consent of the child are a common form of sexual abuse of girls. Sexual abuse at a young age can cause many negative effects in the later stages of a child's life. The problem of child brides is one of the most important social problems that need to be solved in our country. In approaching this problem, first of all, a common language should be created between legal regulations and institutions, and laws should be reorganized to ensure they do not leave the door open for marriages at a young age. In this study, it is aimed to reveal the awareness of the issue of “child brides” and “child marriages”, which continue to be a serious social problem in our country and all over the world, and to determine the necessary solution suggestions for the solution of the problem in the light of the literature.