Save the Children: two girls forced into marriage every minute in vulnerable countries
On the occasion of International Day of the Girl Child, Save the Children has reported that every 30 seconds, a girl is forced into marriage in crisis-stricken countries. According to the organization's October 11 report, 32 million girls living in emergency zones are at heightened risk of early marriage and extreme vulnerability.
The report highlights that over two-thirds of adolescent girls in these vulnerable regions are deprived of education, with fewer than 4% continuing school after marriage. Contributing factors such as wars, conflicts, climate change, economic crises, and poverty have intensified the risks, often pushing families to marry off their underage daughters.
Globally, around 170 million girls live in fragile countries, and they are twice as likely to face the dangers of early marriage compared to those in more stable environments. Alarmingly, one in four girls in these regions gives birth before the age of 18, and at least 5.9 million are either refugees or living in refugee conditions.
Save the Children underscores that child marriage is a violation of human rights and both a cause and consequence of gender inequality. The organization’s call for action comes amid global concerns, especially in Afghanistan, where girls' education beyond the sixth grade is prohibited. Despite appeals from the United Nations and human rights groups, the Taliban has continued to tighten restrictions on women and girls' access to education and public life.
