Children as Victims of Forced Marriages in Lesotho: A Question of Cultural Practice or Approval of Child Exploitation

Precious  Mosa Likoti; Ephraim  Kevin Sibanyoni

doi:10.6000/1929-4409.2020.09.68

Authors

Precious Mosa Likoti Department of Criminology and Forensic Studies, University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
Ephraim Kevin Sibanyoni Department of Criminology and Forensic Studies, University of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4409.2020.09.68

Keywords:

Abduction, crime, victim, children, forced marriage, victimization., Abduction, crime, victim, children, forced marriage, victimization.

Abstract

This study focuses on the experiences of children as victims of abduction into forced child marriage in Lesotho. The study pays attention to children living in the rural area of Semonkong, where patterns of abduction into forced marriage are common. The objectives were, to explore factors that contribute to incidents of a child forced marriages, to determine the effects of a child forced into marriages. The study used a qualitative research method. A sample of 10 participants (all women aged 21-51) from the Semonkong area in Lesotho were sampled using Snowball sampling. In-depth interviews were used to collect data and were analyzed thematically. The findings: families use cultural practice as a means to exact power and authority to exploit children to escape poverty. Most girls were abducted without their consent, threatened, and were continuously violated in their marriages. They experienced damaging and degrading psychological effects from abduction but more so in their marriages. They endure all sorts of abuse and never reported the incident to the police. Recommendations: Preventing forced child marriage requires strengthened legal and policy frameworks, to ensure increased awareness and greater enforcement of existing laws.

References

Alston, M., Whittenbury, K., Haynes, A. and Godden, N., 2014, November. Are climate challenges reinforcing child and forced marriage and dowry as adaptation strategies in the context of Bangladesh?. In Women's Studies International Forum (Vol. 47, pp. 137-144). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2014.08.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2014.08.005

Baba, H., Yendork, J.S. and Atindanbila, S., 2020. Exploring married girls’ subjective experiences of well-being and challenges. Journal of Adolescence, 79, pp.193-207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.01.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.01.009

Bruce, J. and Clark, S., 2004. The implications of early marriage for HIV/AIDS policy. Population Council, New York, pp.57-62. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31899/pgy22.1000

Cook, K.S. and Emerson, R.M., 1987. Social exchange theory. Sage Publications, Inc.

Cook, K.S. and Rice, E., 2006. Social exchange theory (pp. 53-76). US: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-36921-X_3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-36921-X_3

Cropanzano, R. and Mitchell, M.S., 2005. Social exchange theory: An interdisciplinary review. Journal of management, 31(6), pp.874-900. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206305279602 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206305279602

Dlamine-Zuma, N.,2013, Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa, Call for Action: The paper presented at The Conference on Family Planning Addis Ababa, November 2013.

Emerson, R.M., 1976. Social exchange theory. Annual review of sociology, 2(1), pp.335-362. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.so.02.080176.002003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.so.02.080176.002003

Erulkar, A., 2013. Early marriage, marital relations and intimate partner violence in Ethiopia. International perspectives on sexual and reproductive health, pp.6-13. https://doi.org/10.1363/3900613 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1363/3900613

Harrell, M.C. and Bradley, M.A., 2009. Data collection methods. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Rand National Defense Research Inst santa monica ca.

Kalam, A., 2014. Social norms and impediments of women development in Bangladesh. Int'l J. Soc. Sci. Stud., 2, p.100. https://doi.org/10.11114/ijsss.v2i2.365 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11114/ijsss.v2i2.365

Kyari, G.V. and Ayodele, J., 2014. The socio-economic effect of early marriage in North Western Nigeria. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 5(14), p.582. https://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n14p582 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n14p582

Mafhala,V.R.,2005.Child marriage practice: a cultural cross violation of human rights of girls in free south Africa (MPhil, University of Pretoria).

Mack, N., Woodsong, C., Macqueen, K.M., Guest, G. and Namey, E., 2005. Qualitative research methods overview. Qualitative research methods: a data collector’s field guide, pp.1-12.

Molapo, E.L., 2002. Women in patriarchy in Lesotho: a deconstructive study (Doctoral dissertation, University of the Free State).

Molapo, J.M., 2004. A Christian analytic approach of marriage through abduction among the Basotho people of Lesotho: A challenge for pastoral care ministry (Doctoral dissertation).

Molm, L.D., 2006. The social exchange framework. Contemporary social psychological theories, pp.24-45. Journal of Philosophy, 15(1), pp.1-1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/9780804768047-004

Nasrullah, M., Zakar, R. and Zakar, M.Z., 2014. Child marriage and its associations with controlling behaviors and spousal violence against adolescent and young women in Pakistan. Journal of Adolescent Health, 55(6), pp.804-809. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.06.013 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.06.013

Nkosi, P.M., 2011. " Ingcwaba Lentombi Lisemzini": A Socio-cultural and Gendered Construction of Ukuthwala Among the Zulu People in Selected Rural Areas of KwaZulu-Natal (Doctoral dissertation, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban).

Nour, N.M., 2006. Health consequences of child marriage in Africa. Emerging infectious diseases, 12(11), p.1644. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1211.060510 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1211.060510

Nour, N.M., 2009. Child marriage: a silent health and human rights issue. Reviews in obstetrics and gynecology, 2(1), p.51.

Shelton, J., Hilts, M. and MacKizer, M., 2016. An exploratory study of residential child abduction: An examination of offender, victim and offense characteristics. Aggression and violent behavior, 30, pp.24-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2016.06.009 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2016.06.009

Teg, C. 2015. A Woman’s Place in Lesotho: Tackling the barriers to gender equality. Available at: https://www.cteg.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/chwarae-teg-report-a-womans-place-in-lesotho-DT-en.pdf [Accessed 26 July2018].

Tenkorang, E.Y., 2012. Negotiating safer sex among married women in Ghana. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 41(6), pp.1353-1362. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-012-9960-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-012-9960-4

Tenkorang, E.Y., 2019. Explaining the links between child marriage and intimate partner violence: evidence from Ghana. Child abuse & neglect, 89, pp.48-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.01.004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.01.004

UNDP, U., 2018. Human development indices and indicators: 2018 statistical update. Briefing note for countries on the 2018 Statistical Update.

UNICEF 2019, Child marriage is a violation of human rights, but is all too common, UNICEF for every child, Avalaible at: https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/child-marriage/ [Accessed 11 July 2019]

USAID., 2013. National response efforts to address sexual violence and exploitation against children in Lesotho a desktop study. U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). contract number GHH-I-00-07-00059-00.

Warria, A., 2017. Forced child marriages as a form of child trafficking. Children and Youth Services Review, 79(1), pp.274-279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.06.024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.06.024

Winther, K.M. 2006, Forced Marriages. In a Human Rights and Women’s Rights Perspective, Exemplified through Norwegian and Pakistani Legislation.