The Child Rights Act competes with sharia law in some states as well as with customs and cultural expectations in different regions. The Child Rights Act has not been enacted in 13 of Nigeria's 36 states where other cultural and religious factors are largely influencing the laws that are enacted. Even in states with laws prohibiting child marriage, these laws have been ineffective since there remain many cases of child marriage. By the provisions of the Child Rights Act, any decision to be made in any proceeding before a court which involves a child; the best interest of the child is the paramount consideration.