Peer-reviewed article
Child marriage practices among the Rohingya in Bangladesh
Andrea Melnikas, Sigma Ainul, Iqbal Ehsan, Eashita Haque, Sajeda Amin ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examines child marriage practices among the Rohingya population displaced to Bangladesh following violence in Myanmar in 2017. Researchers interviewed Rohingya community members and Bangladeshi host community members in Cox's Bazar camps to understand how displacement influenced marriage timing and practices. The study finds that child marriage is deeply rooted in Rohingya socio-cultural and religious beliefs, and while it was practiced in Myanmar, it has become more prevalent in the camps where marriage regulation is weaker. Displacement and conflict exacerbate child marriage in already vulnerable populations, though cultural and religious norms remain significant drivers of the practice.
Key points
- Child marriage is a strong cultural phenomenon among the Rohingya, primarily rooted in socio-cultural and religious beliefs about readiness for marriage
- Although child marriage was practiced in Myanmar, state law and military oppression prevented many from marrying before age 18
- In Bangladesh camps, with less marriage regulation, the Rohingya preference for child marriage is more easily practiced
- Host community members perceive Rohingya presence as encouraging both polygamy and child marriage in their communities, creating tension
- Displacement and conflict increase child marriage in populations already vulnerable to it by exacerbating gender inequities
Limitations
The document does not provide the specific sample size achieved (noted as "= 24"), exact ages at which marriage occurs, quantitative prevalence rates, or detailed information about interventions or solutions to address child marriage in the camps.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Previous research suggests that child marriage may be accelerated during times of crisis and insecurity as resources are scarce and child marriage may be a survival strategy for girls and their families. In 2017, the Rohingya experienced a mass displacement to Bangladesh in response to escalating violence in Myanmar. This displacement has resulted in an estimated population of nearly 1 million Rohingya living in Cox's Bazar. METHODS: = 24) working in Cox's Bazar to understand their experience of living or working in the camps, preferences for timing of marriage, and marriage practices in Myanmar and in the camps. We also interviewed Bangladeshis in the host community to complement our understanding of marriage in the camps and its influence in the broader community. Our primary objective was to describe how displacement influenced marriage timing and practices. RESULTS: We found that child marriage is a strong cultural phenomenon among the Rohingya, primarily rooted in socio-cultural and religious beliefs around readiness for marriage. Although child marriage was practiced by the Rohingya in Myanmar, specific state law and oppression by military forces prevented many from marrying before age 18. Now this preference is more easily practiced in the camps in Bangladesh where the displaced Rohingya experience less marriage regulation. Host community participants perceive the presence of the Rohingya as encouraging both polygamy and child marriage in their communities, leading to tension among the host community. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support evidence that conflict and displacement increase child marriage in populations already vulnerable to child marriage by exacerbating gender inequities. However, our findings also suggest group norms around religious and cultural preferences for age at marriage play a significant role in post-displacement behaviors surrounding marriage.