Every year, an estimated 10 million girls aged under 18 are married worldwide with little or no say in the matter. That’s more than 25,000 girls every day, or 19 every minute. In the developing world, one in seven girls is married before her 15th birthday and some child brides are as young as eight or nine.
Neither physically nor emotionally ready to become wives and mothers, these girls are at far greater risk of experiencing dangerous complications in pregnancy and childbirth, becoming infected with HIV/AIDS and suffering domestic violence. With little access to education and economic opportunities, they and their families are more likely to live in poverty.
Why does child marriage happen?
Tradition: Child marriage is a traditional practice that in many places happens simply because it has happened for generations – and straying from tradition could mean exclusion from the community. But traditions are made by people – we can change them.
Gender Roles:girls are not valued as much as boys , change parents’ attitudes
Poverty:
bride price. Where poverty is acute, giving a daughter in marriage allows parents to reduce family expenses by ensuring they have one less person to feed, clothe and educate
Security:
Many parents marry off their daughters young because they feel it is in her best interest, often to ensure her safety in areas where girls are at high risk of physical or sexual assault.
Educating and empowering girls
Supporting young people to become activists for change
Mobilising and educating communities
Bringing men and traditional leaders on board
Enacting and enforcing laws that set a legal minimum age for marriage
Introducing incentives
Raising awareness in the media
More about Child Marriage, please visit http://www.girlsnotbrides.org/
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