UNDER-AGE MARRIAGE IN PLURALIST ASIA: AN ANALYSIS OF RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR LAWS OF SOUTH ASIAN COUNTRIES

Abstract

In pluralistic and multi-religious Asia, South Asia is a region with a high incidence of under-age marriage amongst the developing countries of the world. The prevalence of early marriage in these countries, however, varies according to the geographical area or the existence of particular ethnic communities residing in that region. While such marriage takes different forms and has various causes, one concern is overriding, i.e., it results in multi-faced violation of the human rights of the child particularly the girl child. It is disheartening to mention that the practice of under-age marriage is prevalent in South Asia, despite the fact that these countries have laws prescribing minimum age of marriage. The customs, however, override the written laws and marriages are performed in gross violation of national laws.