Saudi Child Bride

CNN Stated:

According to the lawyer, the girl's father arranged the marriage in order to settle his debts with the man, who is "a close friend" of his.

The judge did ask for a pledge from the husband, who was in court, not to consummate the marriage until the girl reaches puberty, according to al-Jutaili.

The judge ruled that when the girl reaches puberty, she will have the right to request a divorce by filing a petition with the court, the lawyer said.

The reason for this verdict?

The mother's lawyer, Abdullah al-Jutaili, said the judge found that the mother -- who is separated from the girl's father -- is not the legal guardian, and therefore cannot represent her daughter.

It seems that even if the government says you can't do this (child marriages) the judges can outrule the government, and allow it anyway.

In an interview with CNN, al-Huwaider said the Saudi government has signed international agreements involving children's and human rights, "and they know that this is very harmful to the kingdom's image. There is a strong wave to teach and spread human rights here in Saudi Arabia, but we all know that there are two players behind the scenes: a movement that wants reform and change to better the kingdom and another movement that wants to keep us backward and in the dark ages."

The Saudi Justice Ministry has not commented.

The Saudi Information Ministry forwarded CNN to the government-run Human Rights Commission.

Zuhair al-Harithi, a spokesman for the commission, said his organization is fighting against child marriages. "Child marriages violate international agreements that have been signed by Saudi Arabia and should not be allowed," he said.

Al-Harithi added that he did not have specific details about this case, but his organization has been able to stop at least one other child marriage.

So in other words they can sign laws into practice, but that doesn't matter. They can't enforce. BOY their laws are good huh? You have to wonder about the word of the husband, and then the word of the Judge once this child comes to puberty!

My thoughts and prayers are with this child bride from Saudi Arabia. If actions speak louder than words she doesn't stand a chance.

Child brides invade the classrooms

Child brides invade the classrooms according to NDTV



About three weeks to go for class X board exams, an exuberant group of girls can't afford to waste any time. All of them have lost precious years of childhood in a marriage that thrust upon them responsibilities far beyond their age. Now none of them wears the mangalsutra and have broken the fetters to go back to school and rewrite their own destiny.

I hope they are able to pass those exams, and those child brides have better future!

Child Marriage in Afghanistan: 7-yr-old bride, 17-yr-old groom

Child Marriage in Afghanistan: 7-year-old bride, 17-year-old groom. That children doesn't even know what is going on. You seriously have to wonder about this cultures. They are placing children into adult situations.

Child Brides: Tiringo

Here is a series of videos about Child Brides

57% of girls in Ethiopia are married before they reach their 18th birthday. In the first of a series of three short documentaries, Tiringo, married at age 6, explains how early marriage prevented her from attending school.

Child Brides: Tiringo

Child Brides: Alameye



In the Addis Ababa fistula hospital, Alameye, forced into marriage at 16, is recovering from surgery to repair a condition virtually unheard of in the West. The second in a series of three short documentaries examines how early marriage affects a girls health. In Ethiopia, there are 9000 new cases of fistula each year and an estimated 100,000 women go untreated due to a lack of resources. Despite her terrible ordeal at such a young age, Alameye is one of the lucky ones.

These Child Bride Series were made by Kim Haughton. Kim Haughton is an award winning photojournalist based in Dublin Ireland.

Her work has appeared in publications worldwide including:
The Guardian, The Observer, Boston Globe, London Times, Irish Times, Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph, Financial Times, TIME and Newsweek.

Child Brides in Ethiopia

This Audio Slideshow was aired on NPR's All Things Considered on January 18, 2007 by Brenda Wilson.

Big Thanks for NPR and Brenda Wilson for this report on Child Brides in Ethiopia.

The Bride Price for Children

The Bride Price: Consequences of Child Marriage Worldwide is a video containing moving images by Stephanie Sinclair - recipient of the 2007 UNICEF Photo of the Year - on the many issues of child marriage. Sinclair's photos include compelling images of child brides in Afghanistan, Ethiopia and India. Sinclair's previous work on child marriage includes a photo essay of Afghani child brides published in The New York Times.

Want to Do More?

Check out the ICRW advocacy page for more information on the consequences of child marriage for girls and boys and U.S. international development assistance, and learn what you can do to make a difference.

The Bride Price Video Link

Child Marriages: What we Know

Who is affected?

More than 100 million girls in the developing world will be married during the next 10 years.


Although the definition of child marriage includes boys, most children married under the age of 18 years are girls.


While the practice has decreased globally over the last 30 years, it remains common in rural areas and among the poorest of the poor.


In Southern Asia, 48%—nearly 10 million—of girls are married before the age of 18.


In Africa, 42% of girls were married before turning 18.


In Latin America and the Caribbean, 29% of girls are married by age 18.



What are the effects of child marriage?

Child brides are more likely than unmarried girls to die younger, suffer from health problems, live in poverty and remain illiterate.

Child Marriage Around the World
Percentage of girls marrying before the age of 18
1 Niger 76.6
2 Chad 71.5
3 Bangladesh 68.7
4 Mali 65.4
5 Guinea 64.5
6 Central African Republic 57.0
7 Nepal 56.1
8 Mozambique 55.9
9 Uganda 54.1
10 Burkina Faso 51.9
11 India 50.0
12 Ethiopia 49.1
13 Liberia 48.4
13 Yemen 48.4
15 Cameroon 47.2
16 Eritrea 47.0
17 Malawi 46.9
18 Nicaragua 43.3
18 Nigeria 43.3
20 Zambia 42.1

Source: ICRW 2007

Premature Pregnancy: Child brides almost always bear children before they are physically - or emotionally - ready.


Maternal Mortality: Girls younger than 15 are five times more likely to die during child birth or pregnancy than older women. Pregnancy-related deaths are the leading cause of mortality for girls aged 15 to 19 worldwide.


Infant Mortality: Mortality rates for babies born to mothers under age 20 are almost 75% higher than for children born to older mothers. The children that survive are more likely to be premature, have a low birth weight, and are more at risk for contracting HIV/AIDS.


Health Problems: Premature childbirth can lead to a variety of health problems for mothers, including fistula, a debilitating condition that causes chronic incontinence. Girls with fistula are often abandoned by their husbands and ostracized by society. There are approximately 2 million girls living with fistula, and 100,000 new cases every year.


HIV/AIDS: Married girls may be more likely to contract sexually transmitted disease, including HIV/AIDS, than unmarried girls. Young girls are more physically susceptible to STD's, have less access to reproductive education and health services and are often powerless to demand the use of contraception.


Illiteracy: Child brides are often pulled out of school and denied further education. Their children are also more likely to be illiterate.


Poverty: Child brides - already poor - are isolated and denied education and employment opportunities, making it difficult for them break out of the cycle of poverty.


Abuse and Violence: Child brides are more likely to experience domestic abuse, and violence than their peers who marry later.


Mental Health: Violence and abuse can lead to post-traumatic stress and depression.


Isolation and Abandonment: Child brides are often isolated from their peers and abandoned if they develop health problems like fistula.



What can be done to prevent child marriage?

Education


Girls with a secondary education are up to six times less likely to marry young compared to girls with little or no education.


Education delays the age at which a woman marries.


Education provides an alternative opportunity for girls other than marriage.


Education increases socio-economic status and earning potential for girls.


Employment/Poverty Reduction

The world's poorest countries have the highest rates of child marriage. Families often marry girls off to lessen their economic burden and provide a future for their daughters.


Girls from poor families are about twice as likely to marry young than girls from better-off households.


Girls who earn a wage may be seen as an economic asset, not a burden, by their families.


Girls who earn a wage are less dependent on others to provide for them.

Percentage of girls marrying before the age of 18

Child Marriage Around the World
Percentage of girls marrying before the age of 18
1 Niger 76.6
2 Chad 71.5
3 Bangladesh 68.7
4 Mali 65.4
5 Guinea 64.5
6 Central African Republic 57.0
7 Nepal 56.1
8 Mozambique 55.9
9 Uganda 54.1
10 Burkina Faso 51.9
11 India 50.0
12 Ethiopia 49.1
13 Liberia 48.4
13 Yemen 48.4
15 Cameroon 47.2
16 Eritrea 47.0
17 Malawi 46.9
18 Nicaragua 43.3
18 Nigeria 43.3
20 Zambia 42.1

Source ICRW: 2007

Child Brides: Stolen Lives

Here is a preview of a program on PBS Now about Child Brides.





Enjoy this special preview of the hour-long NOW special airing Friday, October 12 (check local listings). In the show, NOW travels to Niger, Guatemala, and India to expose the tragic consequences of early marriage, and the hope behind efforts to end the global practice.

Maria's Journey

For Educators
"Child Brides: Stolen Lives" is a one-hour documentary from NOW, the weekly newsmagazine on PBS. NOW's production team traveled to Niger, India and Guatemala to report on a global custom that devastates lives and keeps communities from prospering.

They need to stop child marriages.