Children’s Rights to Protection from Early Marriage: A Critical Evaluation of Legal and Institutional Gaps in the Afar Region of Ethiopia

Abstract Despite legal protections against early marriage under international, African and Ethiopian laws, many children’s rights, especially in Ethiopia’s Afar Region, remain vulnerable. This study assesses national and subnational legal frameworks, highlights gaps in addressing child marriage, and evaluates the performance and limitations of child protection institutions responsible for enforcing these rights. Both Doctrinal and Qualitative research methodologies were employed to conduct this study. The study found that legal and institutional gaps contributed to the prevalence of child marriage in the Afar region. The legal lacunae comprise the absence of a regional family code regulating child marriage, the Criminal Code’s failure effectively to punish perpetrators and key facilitators of child marriage, and its gender insensitiveness. The institutional shortcomings are associated with the failure of the police and the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute child marriage, the absence of a common understanding, strategies and plan of action against early marriage, and the prevalence of weak synergy amongst relevant agencies. This article calls for legal reforms, bold strategies against the practice, and coordination and collaboration among mandated institutions to protect children from early marriage in the Afar region.