Mapping responses to Child Marriage in Lebanon: Reflections from practitioners and policy makers

Since 2011, Lebanon has hosted over a million Syrian refugees, placing immense pressure on its resources and intensifying vulnerabilities among displaced populations, particularly in informal settlements. This prolonged crisis has contributed to the rise of negative coping mechanisms such as child marriage, which is recognized as a form of sexual and gender-based violence with serious implications for girls’ sexual and reproductive health rights. Although child marriage rates in the MENA region have declined overall, conflict and displacement have reversed progress in certain populations. Among Syrian refugees in Lebanon, child marriage rates are significantly higher than national averages, with studies showing that nearly 1 in 7 adolescent girls are married before 18. Evidence suggests that poverty, protection concerns, and cultural practices are key drivers. In response, humanitarian actors and UN agencies have prioritized child marriage prevention, prompting coordinated, multi-sectoral efforts across child protection, education, health, and legal systems.

This study by Terre des hommes (Tdh) and Dr. Aisha Hutchinson reviews these policy and practice responses in Lebanon, drawing on literature and interviews to assess current strategies, identify gaps, and inform ongoing efforts such as the UNICEF/UNFPA Regional Action Plan to End Child Marriage and national legislative advocacy.