Child Marriage in Conflict-Affected Yemen: Girls and Community Members Speak Out on the Drivers

Background Although child marriage remains globally prevalent, the ongoing conflict in Yemen has intensified this harmful practice. This study examines the drivers and structural barriers related to child marriage in conflict-affected Yemen through the perspectives of affected girls and community members to inform gender-transformative and policy-relevant responses.

Methods Data were collected between September and December 2024 through focus group discussions with 97 participants across three Yemeni governorates (Marib, Sana’a, and Taiz). Participants included married and unmarried girls/young women and adult community members. Data analysis was iterative and inductive, using thematic analysis to identify patterns across participant narratives.

Results Three major themes captured the pathways driving early marriage in Yemen: (1) family dynamics and marriage control, revealing the dominance of patriarchal authority, emotional coercion, and family violence that constrained girls’ autonomy; (2) sociocultural endorsement of early marriage, reflecting how traditions, religious discourses, and community pressures legitimized child marriage and sanctioned resistance; (3) conflict-driven displacement and vulnerability, showing how conflict exacerbates economic hardship, weakens legal and social protections, and pushes families to adopt early marriage as an economic survival strategy. Together, these factors normalized early marriage as both a moral duty and coping mechanism amid insecurity.

Conclusions Child marriage in Yemen is sustained through intertwined familial, sociocultural, economic, and structural mechanisms that are intensified by protracted conflict and displacement, limiting girls’ agency and reinforcing patriarchal norms.

Policy Implications Addressing child marriage in Yemen requires gender-transformative and rights-based approaches that integrate education continuity, legal protection, and livelihood support for displaced families. Policies must challenge patriarchal authority and reframe child marriage not as a form of protection, but as a barrier to girls’ wellbeing and autonomy.