Debate: Early Marriage Should Be Banned (6 Winning Points)
Debate: Early Marriage Should Be Banned (6 Winning Points)
Good day, students! If you are preparing to face a tough opponent and a panel of judges on the motion that early marriage should be banned, you have come to the right place.
This is a serious topic. It’s emotional, it’s real, and it affects millions of lives, especially here in Nigeria. When we talk about “Early Marriage,” we are talking about a formal marriage or informal union where one or both parties are under the age of 18.
In this post, I am handing you the winning script. These are the arguments that hit hard—logic, emotion, and facts all rolled into one. We are going to prove that a child belongs in a classroom, not a marriage home.
Disclaimer: This article provides debate points supporting the motion that early marriage should be banned. This is for educational purposes to help you build a strong argument for your competition. We respect all cultural views, but in a debate, your job is to win your side.
Winning Debate Points on Why Early Marriage Should Be Banned
Here is your script. When you step up to that podium, don’t just read these points; feel them. Speak with the authority of someone who knows the truth.
1. The Severe Health Risks (The VVF Crisis)
Mr. Chairman, Panel of Judges, my first and most painful point is the physical danger. A girl’s body under 18 is simply not biologically ready for childbirth. It is not a matter of opinion; it is a matter of biology.
When a young girl becomes pregnant before her pelvis is fully developed, she faces life-threatening complications. Have you heard of Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF)? This is a devastating condition often caused by prolonged labor in young mothers. It leaves them leaking urine, smelling bad, and often rejected by the very husbands they were forced to marry.
[According to the World Health Organization], complications during pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death for girls aged 15–19 globally. By allowing early marriage, we are literally sentencing young girls to death or a life of pain. Is that a practice we should defend?
2. The Death of Education (The Ambition Killer)
Imagine a girl who wants to be a doctor, a pilot, or a lawyer. Now imagine she is married off at 14. What happens to those dreams? They die.
When a girl marries early, she almost always drops out of school to manage a home and raise children. She trades her textbooks for diapers. This denies her the fundamental right to education.
The truth is, an uneducated girl grows up to be an uneducated woman who cannot contribute her full potential to the economy. We are depriving our nation of future leaders. If we want a progressive society, we must keep our girls in school, not in their husband’s kitchen.
3. The Cycle of Poverty
Let’s talk about money. Early marriage is a direct ticket to the poverty cycle. When a girl marries young, she has no skills, no degree, and no financial independence. She becomes totally dependent on her husband.
If that husband dies or leaves, what happens? She and her children fall into deep poverty because she was never given the chance to build a career.
Early marriage should be banned because it creates families that cannot support themselves. A girl who finishes school and gets a job can support her family and her community. A child bride cannot. It’s that simple.
4. Psychological Immaturity
Marriage is not child’s play. It requires patience, emotional intelligence, and the ability to handle complex problems. Can we honestly expect a 15-year-old, who is still a child herself, to handle the heavy responsibilities of a wife and a mother?
Putting this burden on a child causes severe psychological trauma. Many child brides suffer from depression, anxiety, and isolation because they have been cut off from their friends and their childhood. They are forced to play “house” in real life, with real consequences, before they even know who they are.
5. Lack of Consent (Human Rights Violation)
Here is a question for my opponent: Can a 13-year-old sign a legal contract to buy a house? No. Can she vote? No. So why do we think she is capable of consenting to a lifelong commitment like marriage?
The reality is that child brides rarely choose to marry. They are often coerced by parents or poverty. This is a violation of their human rights. Marriage should be a union between two consenting adults, not a transaction involving a child who doesn’t understand what she is getting into. Banning early marriage protects children who cannot protect themselves.
6. Population Explosion
My final point affects us all. Girls who marry early start having children early. Instead of having two or three children starting in their 20s, they might have seven or eight starting in their teens.
This leads to a population explosion that strains our country’s resources. We have fewer jobs, fewer schools, and fewer hospitals for too many people. By delaying marriage, we naturally control the population growth and ensure that every child born can be properly cared for.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Isn’t early marriage a part of our culture/religion? A: Culture is dynamic; it changes to protect the people. Many practices that were once “culture” (like killing twins) were stopped because they were harmful. We can respect our traditions while still protecting the lives and futures of our children.
Q: What is the right age for marriage then? A: Most international bodies and the Child Rights Act in Nigeria set the age at 18. At 18, a person is legally an adult, their body is more developed, and they are more likely to have finished secondary school.
Q: Doesn’t early marriage prevent promiscuity? A: Not necessarily. You teach morality through good parenting and education, not by rushing a child into marriage before they are ready. Education is actually the best tool for making good life choices.
Conclusion
To sum it up, the evidence is overwhelming. Whether we look at it from a health perspective, an economic angle, or a human rights view, the answer remains the same.
We cannot build a strong future on the broken backs of child brides. By banning early marriage, we are saving lives, boosting our economy, and restoring dignity to the girl child.
Disclaimer: Once again, this article supports the motion that early marriage should be banned for the purpose of academic debate. We acknowledge that this is a sensitive topic with deep cultural roots.
What do you think? Is 18 the right age, or should it be older? Drop your opinions in the comments section below… Also, feel free to share this post with your coursemates or those in your team!
