Child Marriage in Canada

Abstract

Child marriage, defined as formal or informal marriage before the age of 18, is a globally recognized indicator of gender inequality. Canada has placed itself at the forefront of global efforts to end child marriage as part of its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Despite these global aspirations, child marriage remains legal throughout Canada. Data from vital statistics agencies and recent censuses indicate that child marriage, although rare, is practiced across the country. In 2016, nearly 2,300 children between 15 and 17 years of age were in union, a prevalence of 0.2 percent. The vast majority (98 percent) of these were informal, common-law unions. Demographic patterns of child marriage in Canada are similar to those observed in many low-and middle-income countries. Girls were far more likely to be married as children than boys and typically wed much older spouses. There were marked differences in the prevalence of child marriage across the country, with the highest estimates found in Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the territories. These findings draw attention to the discrepancy between Canada's domestic law and its foreign policy. They also highlight thorny challenges inherent in efforts to eradicate this practice in Canada and elsewhere.

The health consequences of child marriage: a systematic review of the evidence

“…However, it is unclear why just three countries, India, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia, have received such focused attention while other countries in these regions have received very little. Child marriage is certainly ongoing in many other regions of the world that have received little or no research attention, including high-income countries [ 9 , 87 , 88 ].…”

Child Marriage in Mainland China

“…Attention to this issue has focused largely on low-income countries in Africa and South Asia (Girls Not Brides, n.d.). This research contributes to a growing body of evidence showing that this practice continues across much of the globe, including in wealthier societies (Arthur et al 2018;Koski and Clark 2021). Our work also highlights the ineffectiveness of legislation alone to stem the practice.…”

Mapping the literature on child marriage: A critical engagement

“…Child marriage has been reported as currently "thriving in the UK", where 16 and 17 year-olds can get married with parental consent (Summers, 2021). Furthermore, while child marriage is less common in Canada than it is in the United States (Koski & Clark, 2021;Zaman & Koski, 2020), and while laws are stricter (requiring minors to be at least 16 years-old to marry), child marriage is not uncommon and also disproportionately impacts young women. Nearly 2,300 minors were married in Canada in 2016, and Indigenous minors were eight times more likely to be married than non-Indigenous minors (Koski & Clark, 2021).…”

“…Furthermore, while child marriage is less common in Canada than it is in the United States (Koski & Clark, 2021;Zaman & Koski, 2020), and while laws are stricter (requiring minors to be at least 16 years-old to marry), child marriage is not uncommon and also disproportionately impacts young women. Nearly 2,300 minors were married in Canada in 2016, and Indigenous minors were eight times more likely to be married than non-Indigenous minors (Koski & Clark, 2021). This shows that, like child marriage in the United States, child marriage in Canada is shaped by the intersecting systems of colonialism, gender inequality, and white supremacy.…”