Research indicates that early marriage in refugee camps is a multi-dimensional issue that is interconnected with the education of girls and young women. Studies such as, Jenson and Thornton (2009) argue that early marriage is incompatible with continued formal education given the domestic responsibilities and social expectations for wives and daughters-in –laws. However, when girls are educated it diminishes the negative effects often associated with early marriage. That is, girls are more likely to have healthy families, personal empowerment, greater skill sets, and more economic potential. In fact, higher levels of education are often linked to lower incidences of marriage (UNESCO, 2014).
What local support programs in camps or education policies are necessary to lower the incidence of early marriage and provide educational opportunities for girls, especially retention in higher grades? What are the key components of policies and programs that are successful in reducing child marriage?