© Foto door Pierre Holtz
The Tragedy of Child Marriage
Memory Machaya was a bright 14-year-old girl from Zimbabwe whose life was tragically cut short due to complications during childbirth. Forced into an early marriage within a religious sect, her passing highlighted the urgent need for stronger protections for young girls. Memory's story became a symbol of the fight against child marriage and gender-based violence in Zimbabwe.
Sadly, disturbing reports of the sexual violation of underage girls, including forced child marriages, continue to surface and indeed this is another sad case,
We have a crisis on our hands. The UN estimates that 15 million girls experience child marriage each year. We must move from vulnerability to voice and leadership.
Memory Machaya was a bright 14-year-old girl from Zimbabwe
In sub-Saharan Africa, a staggering 40 percent of girls marry before age 18, and African countries account for 15 of the 20 countries with the highest rates of child marriage. For example, 77 percent of girls in Niger, and over 60 percent of girls in Central African Republic and Chad, marry before they turn 18. Without progress to prevent child marriage, the number of girls married as children will double by 2050.
Girls who marry young are often denied a range of human rights: many must discontinue their education, face serious health risks from early and multiple pregnancies, and suffer sexual and domestic violence.
Causes of Early Child Marriage:
Early child marriage stems from a web of cultural, economic, and societal factors. Below are the key contributors:
1. Tradition and Religion
Cultural practices and religious beliefs often perpetuate early marriages. In some regions, traditions like the Trokosi System in West Africa subject young girls to servitude, abuse, and exploitation.
2. Poverty
Economic hardship drives families to marry off daughters to alleviate financial burdens. Girls are seen as economic liabilities, with marriage acting as a means to reduce costs or gain financial security.
3. Bride Price and Dowry
The dowry system reinforces the perception of girls as commodities, often leading to early marriages. Educated girls are undervalued, receiving lower dowries, incentivizing families to marry them off at a younger age.
4. Devaluation of Girls
Cultural biases against educated girls lead families to prioritize livestock or financial gain over their daughters' futures. This reduces their worth and accelerates early marriages.
5. High Costs of Raising Girls
Raising and educating daughters is perceived as a costly burden, with families viewing marriage as a more profitable option.
6. Caregiver Marriages
In some societies, young girls are married to older or infirm men to serve as caregivers, often at great emotional and physical cost.
Health Effects of Early Child Marriage:
The consequences of early child marriage are severe and far-reaching, affecting both young brides and their children.
1. High Mortality Rates
Young mothers face increased risks of maternal mortality, while their infants are more likely to experience premature death.
2. Domestic Violence and Abuse
Early child brides are disproportionately vulnerable to domestic violence, exacerbated by age-related power imbalances.
3. Higher Risk of STDs
Young brides are more susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases due to limited autonomy and forced sexual activity.
4. Cervical Cancer and Fistulas
Early pregnancies heighten the risk of cervical cancer and obstetric fistulas, leading to chronic health problems and social isolation.
5. Emotional and Psychological Strain
Many young brides suffer severe emotional distress, with heightened risks of depression and suicide.
6. Premature Birth and Complications
Young mothers often give birth prematurely, putting both their lives and their babies at risk.
7. Sexual Assault
In some cases, early marriages lead to sexual violence and tragic outcomes, as seen in extreme cases like the Sudan incident.
Advocating for Change: Strategies to End Early Child Marriage:
Government reforms and societal initiatives are vital to addressing early child marriage. Here’s how we can create a more equitable society:
1. Promote Gender Equality
Empower girls through education, equal job opportunities, and leadership roles to dismantle traditional gender biases.
2. Equal Pay for Equal Work
Ensure women and girls have equal earning opportunities, challenging stereotypes and promoting financial independence.
3. Abolish Bride Price and Dowry
Work towards eliminating practices that commodify women, emphasizing dignity and rights over financial transactions.
4. Back-to-School Programs
Support educational programs for girls who have experienced early marriage or teenage pregnancy, offering a second chance at education.
5. Financial Literacy Programs
Introduce money management courses to equip girls and women with skills for long-term financial independence.
6. Open Reporting Channels
Establish safe, accessible platforms for reporting early marriages, domestic violence, and abuse, with a focus on swift action.
Education Changes Everything
Imagine a world where a girl’s future isn’t cut short by a lack of education. Sadly, for millions of girls, this remains a distant dream:
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In Africa alone, 28 million girls aged 6 to 15 are out of school.
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Violent extremism, poverty, and societal pressures force many girls to leave education behind.
The benefits of education are transformative:
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Educated women lead healthier lives, earn more, and uplift their families from poverty.
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They provide better healthcare and education for their children, creating a ripple effect of progress.
Let’s Ensure Girls Get the Future They Deserve
Without education, millions of girls face grim prospects:
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77 million young women aged 15 to 24 cannot read or write.
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Two-thirds of the global illiterate population are women, with 29 million in sub-Saharan Africa.
Education is not just a right—it’s a pathway to empowerment and a brighter future.
How You Can Make a Difference
Every day, our programs bring hope and opportunity to young girls in need. But to truly expand our reach and deepen our impact, we need your support.
For many of these girls, our initiative is more than just a program—it’s a lifeline. Beyond education, your help enables us to address critical challenges like:
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School fees, textbooks, and learning materials
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Medical expenses and hospital visits
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Protection shelters for vulnerable girls
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Legal aid and court fees
Despite the progress we've made, the harsh reality is that we are running out of the resources necessary to sustain and grow this vital work.
We cannot do this alone. These girls are counting on us, and we are counting on you. Your donation—no matter the size—has the power to change lives, open doors, and create a future filled with possibilities.
Join us in this mission of hope and transformation. Together, we can ensure that no girl is left behind.
Make a Difference Now— Donate Today
Helen, 16, stands with her husband Jade, 53, outside their home
I faced a lot of problems in marriage. I was young and did not know how to be a wife. I was pregnant and had to look after my husband, do housework, deal with in-laws, and work on the farm. My worst time was when I was pregnant; I had to do all this and deal with a pregnancy while I was just a child myself.
Helen said she would have chosen school over marriage, but her family could not afford school fees. She was in labor for five days before having a cesarean section.
— Helen married a 53-year-old man when she was 15, Kansuk, Central Equatoria State, South Sudan.
Amina 13 and her husband in his 50s
Amina, from a rural village in Nigeria, was 13 when she was married to a man in his 50s who already had three wives and several children.
Amina married the man after the death of her father. When she did, her dreams of becoming a doctor evaporated.
Her life changed in other ways too. She was subjected to physical and emotional abuse. She became a mother at an age when some of her peers were in junior high school. Amina’s new husband refused to allow her to continue her education. She felt trapped in a life she never wanted.
A 14-year-old girl holds her baby at her sister’s home in a village in Kanduku, in Malawi’s Mwanza district. She married but her husband chased her away. Her 15-year-old sister, in the background, married when she was 12. Both sisters said they married to escape poverty.
Aguet N., married at age 12 to a 63-year-old man said, “This man went to my uncles and paid a dowry of 80 cows. I resisted the marriage. They threatened me. They said, ‘If you want your siblings to be taken care of, you will marry this man.’ I said he was too old for me. They said You will marry this old man whether you like it or not because he has given us something to eat.
Mary eloped with her husband when she was 14. Her husband beat her severely and stabbed her for talking to another boy. As a result, she lost the use of her right hand. When her husband took her to the police station and accused her of adultery, the police caned her as punishment. Her husband was never charged for assaulting her. Mary now lives with her uncle.
-Juba, Central Equatoria State,
A young woman recovers after giving birth to twins
A young woman recovers after giving birth to twins in Bor Hospital. She was married at the age of 12 and had her first child at the age of 15, enduring a protracted five-day labor.
I had complications during delivery. I was unable to push and I was weak with no energy. The nurses said I was getting complications because my body was not fully developed. To pull out the baby, the nurses forced their hands inside my body and pulled the baby out. I felt so much pain that I was not able to walk for a whole month after delivery.
—Akoi, married at 12, Bor, Jonglei State, South Sudan.