One third of the world's child brides live in India, accounting for a large number of unregistered births, according to a UNICEF report. The new report titled 'Progress for Children: A Report Card on Child Protection' says that despite rising literacy levels and legal prohibition, traditions and religious practices are keeping child marriages alive in India. Highlighting that South Asia has more child marriages than any other region, the report points out that both India and Nepal have a high rate of child marriage involving boys, which is 10 per cent or higher. It says more than half the world's child brides are in South Asia, which also accounts for more than half the unregistered births. The report notes that an estimated 47 per cent of children born in 2007 who were not registered at birth are South Asian, and out of the 24 million, 16 million are from India. Based on the available data, however, some progress is evident. For example, ‘Progress for Children’ notes that in Bangladesh, Guinea and Nepal – three countries where child marriage is prevalent – the median age of marriage is rising, although it is still below 18 years of age.

The report also identifies a slow decline in female genital mutilation/cutting in countries where such abuse has been common. On the other hand, there are many areas where better data collection is needed to form a more complete picture of child-protection challenges. ‘Progress for Children’ concludes with a call to action urging governments, lawmakers, communities, and the public and private sectors to build a more protective environment for children.

On the child labour front, UNICEF estimates that 150 million children between the age group 5-14 years worldwide are engaged in child labour. The report says that 13 per cent (about 44 million) of South Asian children are engaged in child labour. Out of these, 29 million live in India but vast regional divergences exist — from 32 per cent in Gujarat to 3 per cent in Goa and Kerala.

Based on these statistics, it recommends that regional targeting policies aimed at eliminating child labour are essential. Children's Work, an inter-agency project of the International Labour Organisation, the World Bank and UNICEF, also finds a reduction in children's engagement in economic activity in most countries, including large ones such as India, Brazil and Mexico. UNICEF underlines widespread trafficking of children for labour, prostitution and domestic help between India and Bangladesh. Many Nepali children end up being exploited in India, whereas many Pakistani boys and girls are taken to Afghanistan. The report finds very little emphasis has been placed by South Asian nations to protect their children against trafficking.