Those two words, ‘I do’, can make or break a girls life. Every girl dreams of their big day and the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. However it only takes a minute to shatter their dreams, hopes and life ambitions. It’s not fair but it’s happening every single day.
Child brides are one of the world’s most isolated and vulnerable groups. Let’s make a change.
Marriage should be a time for celebration and joy… unless you are one of the 64 million girls around the world forced into marriage before the age of 18.
In countries where girls education is not prioritised, these girls are often married by the time they are 12 or 14 and are expected to start having children by the age of just 16! This diminishes their chances of ever completing their education and exposes them to a high risk of being physically abused, contracting HIV and potentially dying whilst getting pregnant or giving birth.
14 million girls under the age of 18 marry each year.
That’s around …
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1,166,666 a month
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269230 a week
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38,461 a day
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27 every minute
Or, around one girl every two seconds. [1]
Why does it happen?
Gender inequality
Girls often hold a lower status in societies due to cultural traditions, beliefs and perceptions of boys being superior. This denies them their rights and ability to plan an equal role within communities and even their own homes.
Poverty
Often girls from families with low incomes are viewed as an economic burden as they don’t go out to work and earn for the family. Therefore they are pushed into marriage as soon as possible.
‘Protection’
It is believed that girls are married of young to ‘protect’ them against ‘immoral’ or ‘inappropriate behaviour’.
What can we do to put an end to this?
Educate and empower girls. Inspire change.
Supporting girls to complete a quality basic education can help make a difference. Education is one of the most powerful tools to increase a girls’ chances of delaying marriage. CARE believes in empowering girls by providing them with opportunities to gain skills and an education as well as providing them with support networks in a safe environment.
Help bring an end to this human rights violation. Donate and support us today to make a girl’s dream come true.
Written by Janvi Shah
www.janvishah.co.uk
@janvi17
