Shumi is 11 years old. Recently her father attempted to arrange her marriage.
As a youth member of a CARE supported local community group which helps extremely poor women and girls in her community ensure their basic human rights, Shumi had someone to turn to. Now Shumi's family will wait until she is an adult before she is married.
Shumi was lucky. One in seven girls in developing countries, like Bangladesh where Shumi is from, are married before they turn 15. Early marriage has all sorts of negative effects on their lives.
Girls who are married as children are far less likely to complete education. They are more likely to be physically and sexually abused. Worldwide, ninety percent of first births that occur in girls before they are 18 are within marriage. But their bodies may not be ready. Together, pregnancy and childbirth are the number one killer of 15 -19 year old girls.
11 October was the first International Day of the Girl. This is a United Nations designated day calling for the recognition and celebration of girls' rights everywhere. You can still join CARE International, Girls not Brides and many others in calling for an end to child marriage. Join the call to end child marriage. 25,000 girls become child brides every single day. Share this on Facebook > Child brides are twice as likely to be beaten by their husbands. Share this on Facebook > Girls who complete secondary school are six times less likely to become child brides.
Share this on Facebook > DONATE NOW to keep more girls in school and out of marriage.International Day of the Girl
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