Forced Marriage

House of Lords written question – answered at on 18 October 2012.

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Photo of Lord Chidgey Lord Chidgey Liberal Democrat

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of child marriage on the international community's progress towards meeting the millennium development goals.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of child marriage on the international community's drive to reduce global poverty.

Photo of Baroness Northover Baroness Northover Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip), Lords Spokesperson (Department for International Development)

The available evidence demonstrates that child marriage is an obstacle to achieving the millennium development goals (MDGs) and reducing poverty. It can increase the likelihood of complications and death during pregnancy, domestic violence and HIV, and lack of girls' and women's voice and agency. When girls are able to stay in school and marry later, they have fewer children, higher incomes and their children are healthier.

The DfID annual report includes information on global progress towards the MDGs, as well as progress in DfID priority countries. Information on global progress can be found in Chapter 1, with progress in DfID's priority countries in chapter 2.

The DfID's annual report for 2011-12 can be found at: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-us/How-we- measure-progress/Annual-report.

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