Child Marriage and Human Rights in Moroto District, Uganda

ABSTRACT The study examined the impact of child marriage on the human rights of children, using selected communities (Tepeth and Matheniko) in Moroto District, Uganda as case study. The study objectives were: to investigate the factors influencing child marriage in Tepeth and Matheniko; to examine the effects of child marriage on the human rights of the victims in Tepeth and Matheniko and to analyze the effects of child marriage on the well-being of the victims and the entire communities of Tepeth and Matheniko. The study employed case study design, while data was collected using qualitative approaches. Accordingly, the data collection methods were faceto-face interviews and focus group discussion (FGD), and 60 respondents participated in the study. Furthermore, two theories: Structural-Functional Theory of Social Change and Radical Feminist Theory guided the study. The first theory, Structural-Functional Theory of Social Change, holds that the society is best understood as a complex system with various interdependent parts that work together to promote solidarity and stability. The second theory Radical Feminist Theory, argues that patriarchy is the primary cause of women oppression. The theory contends that patriarchy is a factor that gives men advantage over women in the society - it puts men in a position to determine the future of women. The study findings revealed that the main factors influencing child marriage in Tepeth and Matheniko are poverty, cultural practice of cementing alliances and women’s position in the society. In addition, the study found that child marriage breaches different aspects of human/ children’s rights, such as the right to education, healthcare, and protection from physical and sexual abuse among others. The study concluded that child marriage is a practice that has long lasting negative impact on the well-being of the affected individuals and the development of communities where it is practiced. Consequently, the study calls for the eradication of child marriage and thus, made recommendations on possible solutions and strategies to eradicate the practice.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION………………………………………………………. ……………….…i

APPROVAL………………………………………………………………………………. ii

DEDICATION……………………………………………………………………………. iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……………………………………………………………… iv

LIST OF TABLES………………………………………………………………………... vii

LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………………………………. viii

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS……………………………………………………………. ix

ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………………. x

CHAPTER ONE………………………………………………………………………….. 1

GENERAL INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………...1

1.0 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………..1

1.1 Background of the study………………………………………………………………. 1

1.1.1 Historical perspective ………………………………………………………………. 1

1.1.2 Theoretical perspective……………………………………………………………… 3

1.1.3 Conceptual perspective……………………………………………………………… 4

1.1.4 Contextual perspective……………………………………………………… ……….7

1.2 Statement of the problem……………………………………………………………… 7

1.3 Purpose of the study……………………………………………………… ………….. 8

1.4 Research objectives …………………………………………………………………… 8

1.5 Research questions……………………………………………………… ……………. 8

1.6 Scope of the study……………………………………………………………………... 9

1.6.1 Geographical scope…………………………………………………………………. .9

1.6.2 Content Scope……………………………………………………………………….. 9

1.7 Significance of the Study ………………………………………………………………9

1.8 Definition of key operational terms…………………………………………………. ... 10

CHAPTER TWO ………………………………………………………………………… 12

LITERATURE REVIEW ……………………………………………………………….. 12

2.0 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………. 12

2.1 Conceptual Framework…………………………………………………………………12

2.2 Theoretical framework………………………………………………………………… 13

2.3 Child marriage in context……………………………………………………………… 17

2.4 International legal instruments protecting the rights of children……………………… 18

2.4.1 African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC)………………....19

2.4.2 African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)…………………………..20

2.5 Causes of child marriage………………………………………………………………. 21

2.5.1 Poverty……………………………………………………………………………….. 21

2.5.2 Tradition and religion………………………………………………………………... 21

2.5.3 Limited education and economic options……………………………………………. 22

2.5.4 Insecurity……………………………………………………………………………...22

2.6 Effects of child marriage………………………………………………………………. 22

2.6.1 Psychosocial effects…………………………………………………………………..23

2.6.2 Sexual abuse and exploitation……………………………………………………….. 23

2.6.3 Denial of education and human development……………………………………….. 24

2.7 Sustainable Development Goals and child marriage…………………………………... 24

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2.8 Child marriage in Africa……………………………………………………………….. 26

2.9 Child marriage perspective from Uganda………………………………………………28

2.10 Gap in the literature…………………………………………………………………. 29

CHAPTER THREE……………………………………………………………………… 30

METHODOLOGY ………………………………………………………………………. 30

3.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………. 30

3.2 Research design……………………………………………………………………… .. 30

3.3 Population of the study………………………………………………………………... 30

3.4 Sample size…………………………………………………………………………… . 30

3.5 Sampling Method…………………………………………………………………… …31

3.6 Sources of data..………………………………………………………………………. .32

3.6.1 Primary source………………………………………………………………………. 32

3.6.2 Secondary source……………………………………………………………………. 32

3.7 Data collection methods/ instruments ………………………………………………… 32

3.7.1 Group discussion……………………………………………………………………. 33

3.7.2 Interview guide questions……………………………………………………… …… 33

3.8 Data collection procedure………………………………………………………….. .… 33

3.9 Data processing and analysis…………………………………………………………... 34

3.10 Ethical consideration…………………………………………………………………. 34

3.11 Limitations of the study………………………………………………………………. 34

CHAPTER FOUR…………………………………………………………………………35

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION………………….. 35

4.1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………. 35

4.2 Demographic characteristics of respondents…………………………………………... 35

4.3 Factors influencing child marriage……………………………………………………. 37

4.4 Effects of child marriage on the human rights of victims………………………………39

4.5 Impact of child marriage on the well-being of the victim and the community…………40

CHAPTER FIVE…………………………………………………………………………. 43

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS….. 43

5.0 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………. 43

5.1 Discussion of findings………………………………………………………………… 43

5.2 Conclusions……………………………………………………………………………. 48

5.3 Recommendations……………………………………………………………………... 49

5.4 Contribution to knowledge…………………………………………………………….. 50

5.5 Area of further research………………………………………………………………... 51

REFERENCES…………………………………………………………………………… 52

APENDICES……………………………………………………………………………… 58

APPENDIX I: INTERVIEW GUIDE QUESTIONS…………………………………....58