Travelling theories and early marriage : human rights, feminism and Islam (in North Sudan)

Abstract

The International Development Community advocate rights-based solutions to target the enduring practice of Early and Child Marriage. With human rights law demanding a legal minimum age of 18 years for marriage, national governments are encouraged to commit to rights frameworks and legislate this minimum age requirement. Moreover, at the grassroots level, rights-based approaches are recommended by key donors, with human rights law thereby acting as a framework to the intervention. This research examines the translation and reception of human rights and feminist discourses by three target organisations, each working to address young marriage in North Sudan. As an Islamic state with a traditionally conservative society, in North Sudan, the translation of human rights and feminism is negotiated and informed by strongly held religious beliefs, with these beliefs often resulting in the rejection of transnational discourses. With the translation and reception of human rights, feminism and Islam analysed through the nexus of early marriage, the study shows the significant disparity of understanding and view in how these travelling theories are applied. With the contrasting positions identified, grouped into four different discourses of translation, the thesis provides insight into the framing of rights, feminism and Islam, to inform strategies to address early marriage in Islamic populations.