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

This study aims to map policies and service responses across Lebanon in relation to child marriage and to reflect on the approaches used and the challenges faced. Child marriage is characterized by a complexity of drivers and outcomes. Moreover, child marriage and child-protection involve different actors who come from different key sectors such as child protection, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), education, maternal and infant health, reproductive health, livelihoods, the justice system, personal status law, mental health and youth empowerment. Consequently, there is an increasing awareness about the need for coordinated and multi-sectorial responses to child marriage. Hence, this study sheds light on child marriage in Lebanon mapping policy and practices that have been developed. It is based on a review of relevant literature and 25 semi-structured qualitative interviews on policies and approaches to child marriage. This study finds that significant policy development is needed in the education, health and livelihoods sector in order to prevent child marriage and provide care to those who are married.