HighlightWorld News

World Bank Report: Over 20,000 girls married off illegally each day

121

[dropcap]A[/dropcap]t least 20,000 girls around the world are married off illegally each day, with child marriage often deeply rooted in tradition despite being outlawed in a growing number of countries, according to new analysis released on Wednesday by the World Bank and global charity Save the Children.

“Laws banning the practice are an important first step. But millions of vulnerable girls will continue to be at risk unless child marriage is tackled head on,” Helle Thorning-Schmidt, head of Save the Children, said in a statement.

“When a girl gets married too young, her role as a wife and a mother takes over. She is more likely to leave school, she may become pregnant and suffer abuse,” said Thorning-Schmidt.

“We need to change attitudes in communities so that we can end this harmful practice once and for all.”

The World Bank in June said ending child marriage would reduce population growth, boost girls’ educational achievements and increase their earnings.

Around the world, nearly 100 million girls do not have laws protecting them from being married, the report added.
Worldwide, 15 million girls are married off as children every year — millions of them without breaking any law.

More than a fifth are in West and Central Africa, where 1.7 million illegal child marriages occur each year, the highest rates in the world, the report said.

The figures show the challenges in enforcing anti-child marriage laws, since the practice can often be entrenched in community traditions and religious customs, the report said.

Early marriage not only deprives girls of education and opportunities, but also increases the risk of death or serious childbirth injuries if they have babies before their bodies are ready. Child brides are also at greater risk of domestic and sexual violence.

Parents may marry girls off so they have one less mouth to feed and in Africa will receive a “bride price” for the girl.
Some communities also see child marriage as a way of protecting girls from having premarital sex.

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Just in: FCT court discharges, acquits ex-AGF Adoke in OPL 245 fraud charge

The FCT High Court in Jabi, Abuja, on Thursday dismissed the charges...

63-year-old woman, teenage girl, two others killed in U.S. stabbing spree

A man armed with a knife went on a stabbing spree in...

FG to collect only nine types of taxes, says FIRS chairman

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) says in line with the presidential...

After 14 days in detention, First News editor, Segun Olatunji, breathes air of freedom

The Editor of FirstNews, a digital newspaper, Segun Olatunji, on Thursday regained...

N3trn budget padding: Sen. Ningi threatens legal action if suspension is not lifted in seven days

Abdul Ningi, the senator representing Bauchi Central, has given Senate President Godswill...

Eniola Ajao apologizes over “AJAKAJU” movie premiere controversy

Actress Eniola Ajao has issued an apology to the public in the...

Ex-Presidential media aide, Akande criticises LP’s leadership, urges party’s alignment with national interest

Mr. Laolu Akande, a former presidential assistant, has expressed dissatisfaction with the...

Economic hardship: Ogun Govt. begins sale of rice at 50 percent price reduction to workers, public

Ogun Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has announced that his administration will start selling...

FG committed to steel industry revitalization to drive infrastructural development, says Industry Minister, Dr Uzoka-Anite

The Federal Government is committed to industry rehabilitation, with a focus on...

Easter: FG declares Friday, March 29, Monday, April 1 public holidays

The Federal Government has declared Friday, March 29, and Monday, April 1,...

Fake, unwholesome products: NAFDAC seals 10 bakeries, 8 table water factories in Rivers

The National Agency for Food and Drug Control (NAFDAC) has shut down...

Climate change, food security: AfDB approves $50 million for Yobe State

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has granted a $50 million loan...

Ex Guinea-Bissau President’s Son Jailed in U.S. for Drug Trafficking

Malam Bacai Sanha Jr, the son of a former president of Guinea-Bissau,...

Togo dumps presidential system for parliamentary, adopts new constitution

Togolese lawmakers adopted a new constitution on Monday, moving the West African...

Few weeks to party primary, leading Ondo APC governorship aspirant, Dr. Paul Akintelure, passes away

Dr. Paul Akintelure, a prominent candidate for governorship in Ondo State who...

IPOB, bandits using betting sites, crowdsourcing to finance terrorism – NFIU

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), bandits, and other terror organizations are...

EU launches €9m energy projects in Nigeria

The European Union (EU) has unveiled two new initiatives worth €9 million...

Don’t sell dollar above N1,269, CBN orders Bureau de Change

As part of measures to strengthen the naira against the dollar, the...

U.S. state bars under-15 children from having social media accounts

Florida State Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill prohibiting children younger...

Anguishes, deprivations as Lagos Govt. house demolition squad moves from Lekki to Ebutte Meta

Cries of anguish and deprivation followed the demolition of Ifesowapo, Ifedapo, Otto/Ilogbo,...