Time to Act – Let's Go Digital!
Using digital technology to end child, early and forced marriage and reduce adolescent pregnancy.
Eliminating Child, Early, and Forced Marriage
Asia is home to a high number of children who are forced to marry for economic, cultural, and family reasons. At least 14 million girls under the age of 18 marry every year globally and for girls, this has life-changing impacts on their futures. They drop out of school and miss out on valuable opportunities to find employment and to reach their full potential.
“Nearly 39,000 girls under the age of 18 get married in the world every day.”
Child marriage is a breach of children’s rights as marriages usually happen without their consent to partners they have never met. Girls in particular are married young to reduce the economic burden on their family; they are no longer an extra person for their parents to look after.
After marriage, girls are at increased risk of early and dangerous pregnancies, domestic violence and sexual assault and become responsible for the household chores in their husbands’ households.
Plan International is working with men and women across Asia to change perceptions about child marriage and raise awareness of the rights of all children.
Categories: Campaigns, Protection from violence, Sexual and reproductive health and rights, Youth empowerment
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