To most of us, when we hear about child marriages, it
probably does not make sense. To some of us, it is not real. However,
statistics indicate that this problem is more real than we imagine. 1 in 9
girls from developing countries are married before the age of 15. Some of these
girls are married off at age 9. 1 in 3 girls in developed countries are married
before age 18. As a result, about 14 million girls under the age of 18 are
denied their rights to education worldwide. Although statistics indicate that this problem
is worse in some countries than others, this problem is worse in developing
countries.
In South Asia for instance, 46% of girls are married before
age 18. In Sub-Saharan Africa, 38% of the girls are married off before age 18. In
Latin America and the Caribbean, 21% of girls are married off before age 18. In
East Asia and the Pacific, 18% of the girls are married off before age 18. In the
Middle East and North Africa, 18% of girls are married before age 18. In central
Europe, 11% of girls are married before age 18 (UNICEF, 2013).
While child brides has been an acceptable practice in many
countries, modern societies have tried to protect children by insisting they
get opportunities to education in order to live a better life. The United Nations' the organization to which
most countries who seek to promote social justice and welfare of all stipulates
in Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, that there are "equal and
inalienable rights of all members of the human family." The right to education,
the right to shelter and the food are considered basic to each and every one. Unfortunately,
child brides are denied education which is fundamental to attaining the other
basic rights.
As stated by the
UNICEF, most of these child brides end up in poverty, less educated and with
serious health issues, for themselves and their children. According to studies,
girls age 15-19 are twice as likely to die during pregnancy or child birth
compared to those over age 20. Girls younger than 15 are five times more likely
to lose their lives during child birth. When a woman is under 18, her child is
60% more likely to die in its first year of life than a baby born to a mother
over 18 years.
In addition to
this, countries with the highest child marriage rates have the lowest rates of
educated women. A country that denies women education does not only deny these
women a healthy and better livelihood, it also denies itself human power that
would have gone into its development. It is no wonder that countries with the
most child marriages happen to be the poorest.
For those of us
who care, we should do something about it. While it is beyond our mission to
rid the society of this cruel practice, those of us at WISO do whatever little
we can to help protect children from marriages that destroy their lives. With
your donations, we seek out girls, one at a time, support her education and put
her to a road to a better life. We use donations to pay their tuition, bills in
a sheltered environment until they are able to go out as independent and
responsible citizens. Yet, even with our meager support, we are hopeful that
with your support, we can make a difference in a number of girls’ lives. Visit us
at www.wiso2011.org to learn what we do
and to support us by a donation of your choosing. We count on your support. Make one girls Christmas true by presenting
her a gift to education.
