Child marriages’ root causes: PERCEPTION & ATTITUDE AGE, PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT It is understandable for an adolescent GIRL, i.e. a girl who has started menstruation/menstruation, to get married. Marriage of an adolescent BOY is understandable. PROTECTION It is understandable to marry off an adolescent GIRL child to protect her from harassment and abuse. It is understandable to marry an adolescent BOY to protect him/her from harassment and abuse. It is understandable to marry an adolescent GIRL child in order to protect him/her from crime, substance abuse, etc. risks on the streets. It is understandable to marry an adolescent BOY to protect him/her from risks on the streets such as getting involved in crime, substance abuse, etc. SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP Marrying the GIRL who elopes with her boyfriend right away is understandable. Marrying the BOY who elopes with his girlfriend right away is understandable . It is understandable marrying the adolescent GIRL to the person who she had sexual intercourse with. IIt is understandable marrying the adolescent BOY to the person who he had sexual intercourse with. Marrying a pregnant GIRL is understandable. It is understandable for a BOY who impregnates a girl to marry the girl. It is understandable for an adult man who impregnates a girl to marry her. May a pregnant girl have an abortion? 39