A Child, Not a Bride: Ending Child Marriage in Cambodia
Author Name: Ly Sophorn
Background: Sophorn was a Campaign and Research Intern at Klahaan. Sophorn is also a co-Lead of the AURA Project which supports people with disabilities, and is very passionate about creating inclusive solutions for community development.
1.2 million girls of girls and women across Cambodia whose childhoods education, and opportunities were cut short by child marriage were cut short by early marriage (UNICEF, 2024). The problem is especially severe in certain regions. In provinces such as Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri, where many of the residents belong to indigenous communities, the rate of child marriage is at 36%. These high rates are driven by a combination of poverty, limited access to education, and deeply rooted traditional practices.
Civil Code 2007, Article 948 stipulates that the minimum age of marriage is 18; however, by law, marriage is allowed from age 16 with parental or guardian consent when the other party has attained the age of majority. In practice, social and cultural norms have more influence on child marriage beyond what is stated legally, especially in remote areas where customary practices and family decisions continue to shape girls’ lives. Many marriages also occur as informal unions rather than registered ones, making them harder to track and address.
The critical question is “How does child marriage remain in practice?” It is worth noting that child marriage in Cambodia is not caused by tradition alone. It is driven by a combination of poverty, economic pressure, social norms and gender expectations, weak enforcement of existing laws, limited education and knowledge of sexual and reproductive health. Understanding these issues are essential to addressing the root causes of child marriage and protecting girls' rights.
Poverty and Economic Pressure
One of the major drivers of child marriage in Cambodia is poverty and economic pressure. In many low-income families, parents see marrying off a daughter as a way to ease the heavy financial burden at home. With limited resources for food, clothing, education, and daily needs, supporting all their children becomes very difficult. By arranging an early marriage, families hope the husband and his family will take over the responsibility of caring for the girl. (UNICEF, 2026).
Families also receive bride price, money or goods given by the groom’s family to the bride’s family, which can offer immediate economic relief. In other cases, marrying a daughter early simply helps reduce the household’s ongoing expenses for food, clothing, and education. These financial pressures often lead families to see child marriage as a practical way to cope with hardship.
Social Norms and Gender Expectations
Social norms and gender expectations play a powerful role in driving child marriage. Traditional beliefs about girls’ sexuality and family honor often push families to marry daughters early. Many parents believe that marriage will “protect” their daughter’s reputation and virginity, shielding her from the risk of premarital sex, gossip, harassment, or sexual violence outside the family. In their view, placing her under the “protection” of a husband and his family is safer than leaving her unmarried. However, this belief is deeply flawed. In reality, child marriage does not protect girls; it often exposes them to greater harm. Once married, many girls face higher risks of intimate partner violence, sexual abuse, and exploitation within the marriage itself, especially because they have less power to negotiate or refuse sex with older husbands (UN Women, 2016; UNFPA, 2025).
Weak Enforcement of the Law
Weak enforcement of the law also allows child marriage to continue. In many rural and indigenous communities, customary practices and family decisions still take priority over legal requirements. Local authorities frequently lack the resources, training, or willingness to intervene effectively, and many marriages occur as unregistered informal unions. This gap between law and implementation remains a major challenge (UNICEF, 2026).
Limited Education and Knowledge of Sexual and Reproductive Health
Limited access to education and lack of knowledge about sexual and reproductive health also contribute significantly to child marriage. When girls struggle to stay in school due to long distances, high costs, or family priorities, they often have fewer choices and opportunities for their future, making early marriage more likely. At the same time, many girls receive little information about their bodies, relationships, or contraception. This lack of knowledge, combined with social pressure, frequently leads to early unions and unintended pregnancies (UNFPA & UNICEF, 2023). These factors are all connected, and deep-rooted gender norms that undervalue girls’ voices and futures make it harder for girls to pursue education, make their own decisions, or access the support they need.
The Devastating Impact of Child Marriage on Girls
Adolescent Pregnancy
One of the most serious impacts of child marriage is the high risk of adolescent pregnancy. In Cambodia, most girls who marry early are expected to start a family soon after marriage, often without having made a real choice. This early pregnancy is extremely dangerous. Pregnancy-related complications are the second leading cause of death among girls aged 15 to 19 in Cambodia. Because their bodies are still developing, young girls face much higher risks of serious complications during pregnancy and childbirth. As Dr. Khut Khemrin from Marie Stopes International Cambodia explains, “Women at the age of 18 or under have organs which are still developing, so pregnancy will cause problems, especially during delivery.”
Poverty
Child marriage severely limits girls’ future opportunities and economic independence. Many girls who marry before the age of 18 leave school because of marriage, pregnancy, or increased household responsibilities. Without completing their education, they have fewer opportunities to develop skills, secure stable employment, and earn higher incomes. According to the World Bank and the International Center for Research on Women, lower educational attainment associated with child marriage contributes to lower lifetime earnings, reduced productivity, and greater economic vulnerability, reinforcing intergenerational cycles of poverty.
Domestic Abuse
Child marriage significantly increases the risk of domestic violence and abuse. According to UNICEF, over 30% of women in Cambodia who married as children experienced domestic violence, a much higher rate than those who married as adults. This is largely due to the extreme power imbalance in the relationship, especially when there is a large age gap between the young bride and her husband. Many girls also grow up accepting violence as normal, believing a husband is justified in beating his wife for reasons such as arguing, refusing sex, or burning food. Due to stigma and social pressure, most cases go unreported.
Ways Forward
To government
Strengthen laws and enforcement: Governments must enact and enforce stronger laws that completely ban child marriage with no exceptions. In Cambodia, this means removing the provision in the Civil Code that allows 16-year-olds to marry with parental consent.
Invest in girls’ education and rural communities: Invest in girls’ education and rural communities: Beyond changing laws, governments need to build safe, accessible secondary schools in remote and indigenous areas, improve infrastructure, and provide financial support to families so girls can stay in school longer. It is also essential to assess the specific needs of girls from marginalized and indigenous communities such as language barriers, and transportation challenges, to design more effective programs that help them remain in school. When girls have real access to quality, inclusive education, they gain the knowledge, confidence, and power to reject child marriage.
To Parents and Community Leaders:
Engage parents and community leaders: Real change begins at home and in the community. Parents, village elders, and community leaders should hold open conversations about the dangers of child marriage and early pregnancy, while emphasising the benefits of keeping girls in school longer and delaying marriage.
Challenge harmful traditions: Community leaders and parents can play a powerful role by publicly rejecting harmful social norms, supporting girls who want to continue their education, and celebrating families that choose to delay marriage. When respected figures lead by example, they help shift community attitudes and create new positive traditions.
To Youth:
Empower young people as agents of change: Young people can play a powerful role in ending child marriage. They understand the pressures their peers face and can actively support friends who are being forced into early marriage by speaking up, offering support, and encouraging them to stay in school.
Engage boys and young men: They also have a crucial role to play. By educating them on gender equality and encouraging them to challenge harmful stereotypes about girls and women, we can raise a new generation that respects girls as equal partners and actively supports their rights and opportunities.
We must refuse to look away. Ending child marriage requires all of us to raise our voices, support grassroots feminist organisations, and demand stronger legal protections for girls everywhere. Let us build a future where every girl can grow up safely, choose her own path, and realise her full potential. A child is a student, a dreamer, and a leader - she is never a bride.
About the author: Ly Sophorn was a Campaign and Research Intern at Klahaan. Sophorn is also a co-Lead of the AURA Project which supports people with disabilities, and is very passionate about creating inclusive solutions for community development.
Comments