A minor girl from the Dinajpur district of West Bengal recounted how child marriage led to her subsequent trafficking and exploitation [1].
Her testimony highlights a critical link between early forced marriages and the broader humanitarian crisis of human trafficking in India. By stripping children of their legal protections and educational opportunities, these practices create a pipeline toward systemic abuse [1].
The survivor said being married off as a child removed her safety nets. This vulnerability made her a target for traffickers who exploit the lack of oversight and the social isolation often associated with child marriages in rural regions [1, 2].
According to the reports, child marriage is not merely a social tradition but a humanitarian crisis that deprives children of their fundamental rights [1]. The loss of education and autonomy leaves young girls unable to seek help or escape abusive environments, often resulting in forced labor, or sexual exploitation [2].
In the Dinajpur district, these patterns illustrate how the intersection of poverty and traditional practices fuels trafficking networks [1]. The survivor's account serves as a case study in how the initial act of child marriage functions as a catalyst for further crimes against minors [1, 2].
Advocates said protecting the rights of children requires addressing the root causes of child marriage to prevent the cycle of exploitation. Without systemic intervention, girls in these regions remain susceptible to traffickers who capitalize on their precarious legal and social status [1].
“Child marriage is described as a humanitarian crisis that deprives children of rights, safety, and education.”
The connection between child marriage and trafficking suggests that early marriage is often the first step in a chain of exploitation. When a minor is removed from the educational system and placed in a marriage, they lose the institutional protections of school and the legal standing of a child, making them invisible to authorities and highly valuable to traffickers.
