Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb.16 / Trend K.Zarbaliyeva /
Early marriages cause increase of the child and maternal mortality, growing numbers of divorces, lack of women's education. That is the conclusion of a study carried out with the support of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children and UNICEF office in Azerbaijan
The Committee held studies in four regions including Absheron, Guba, Lankaran and Agstafa and surveyed 488 early married youth and their parents
According to the studies, misinterpretation of religious dogma and patriarchal principles of the society are the main reason of early marriages. Furthermore, marriage and parenthood is perceived as the most important achievement of woman.
The committee could not to determine the exact number of early marriages leading to the divorce, because most teenagers did not engage in formal marriage
Proposals for improving legislation and strengthening the mechanisms of its implementation in the fight against early marriages was prepared and submitted to relevant agencies as a result of studies.
The Committee proposed to make amendments in the Family Code raising girls' marriage age under 18 years. Early marriage will be allowed only in case of pregnancy or the presence of a child, Social Policy Committee head Hadi Rajabli said
"Some 5,000 of total 90,000 of girls got married in the age up to 18-year old. Of the total 155,000 infants, 26,000 were born out of wedlock, "Rajabli added
Early marriage is a marriage of children and adolescents under 18 years. This age is the highest age limit stipulated in the Convention on the Children Rights