March celebrates women everywhere but hides a terrible problem. Many young girls across the world marry before turning 18. These child brides lose their childhood, education, and future chances. The practice happens most often because families need money or follow old traditions.
We must stop child marriages to help girls reach their dreams. The problem affects communities everywhere, not just the girls themselves. When we fight for women this month, we need to remember these young victims who never had a chance to grow up before becoming wives.
UNICEF tells us more than 12 million girls marry as children every year around the world. That equals one out of every five girls globally. Some places see much higher numbers. West Africa reports nearly 42 percent of girls married before age 18.
Zimbabwe faces serious challenges with this issue. Reports show one-third of young women there married during childhood. The country has over a million child brides already. About 21 percent of kids, mostly girls, marry before 18 years old. The Girl Child Network found around 8,000 girls forced into marriages or kept as sex slaves since 2008.
People made progress stopping these marriages until recent years. The pandemic, money problems, and fighting in various regions caused setbacks. Millions more children face risk today. Poor families often see marriage as a way to solve money troubles or protect their daughters without thinking about the long-term harm.
Education stops immediately for most child brides. They must leave school to handle house duties or become mothers. The government allows pregnant girls to return to class, but few do because others judge them harshly. Without school, these girls cannot find good jobs or support themselves.
World Bank research proves each extra year of high school reduces child marriage chances by at least five percent. Girls with education make better choices about their futures, wait longer to marry, and help their countries grow economically.
Young bodies often cannot safely carry babies. Child brides face deadly pregnancy problems, birth injuries, and higher rates of baby deaths. These pregnancy issues kill more girls aged 15-19 than anything else worldwide. Many young wives also suffer beatings, sexual abuse, and mental health problems like depression from forced sex and feeling trapped.
Marriage at a young age almost always creates money dependence. These girls stay poor because they have little education to help them find work. If their husbands die or leave, they cannot support themselves or their children. This puts extra pressure on already struggling communities.
Child marriage hurts entire countries economically. A 2017 study found ending this practice could add trillions of dollars to the global economy. Girls who finish school join the workforce, create businesses, and boost economic growth everywhere they live.
Health systems spend more money treating problems from child marriages. Teen pregnancies, mother deaths, and poor child nutrition cost governments huge amounts. They spend money fixing these issues instead of preventing them through education and support programs for girls.
These marriages keep old systems going that treat women as less important than men. They take away freedom from girls to decide about their bodies, schools, and careers. When girls lose chances, gender fairness becomes harder to achieve for everyone.
Laws exist against child marriages in many places, including Zimbabwe, but enforcement remains weak. The country makes marrying anyone under 18 illegal, yet many girls still become brides with few consequences. Governments must close legal loopholes and punish everyone involved, whether parents, religious figures, or community leaders.
Keeping girls in school works better than almost anything else to prevent early marriage. Communities need to provide education and teach skills that help girls support themselves financially. This creates independence and better choices for their futures.
Cultural views about young marriages must change. Communities need to learn about the damage these practices cause and create new coming-of-age traditions. Religious leaders can help spread awareness, and girls themselves should learn to speak up for their rights.
Women deserve more than just celebrations during their special month. Future generations of girls should never face marriage before adulthood because of outdated customs or desperate financial situations. A world without child marriage allows all girls to dream, learn, and reach their full potential as equal members of society.
We must stop child marriages to help girls reach their dreams. The problem affects communities everywhere, not just the girls themselves. When we fight for women this month, we need to remember these young victims who never had a chance to grow up before becoming wives.
UNICEF tells us more than 12 million girls marry as children every year around the world. That equals one out of every five girls globally. Some places see much higher numbers. West Africa reports nearly 42 percent of girls married before age 18.
Zimbabwe faces serious challenges with this issue. Reports show one-third of young women there married during childhood. The country has over a million child brides already. About 21 percent of kids, mostly girls, marry before 18 years old. The Girl Child Network found around 8,000 girls forced into marriages or kept as sex slaves since 2008.
People made progress stopping these marriages until recent years. The pandemic, money problems, and fighting in various regions caused setbacks. Millions more children face risk today. Poor families often see marriage as a way to solve money troubles or protect their daughters without thinking about the long-term harm.
Education stops immediately for most child brides. They must leave school to handle house duties or become mothers. The government allows pregnant girls to return to class, but few do because others judge them harshly. Without school, these girls cannot find good jobs or support themselves.
World Bank research proves each extra year of high school reduces child marriage chances by at least five percent. Girls with education make better choices about their futures, wait longer to marry, and help their countries grow economically.
Young bodies often cannot safely carry babies. Child brides face deadly pregnancy problems, birth injuries, and higher rates of baby deaths. These pregnancy issues kill more girls aged 15-19 than anything else worldwide. Many young wives also suffer beatings, sexual abuse, and mental health problems like depression from forced sex and feeling trapped.
Marriage at a young age almost always creates money dependence. These girls stay poor because they have little education to help them find work. If their husbands die or leave, they cannot support themselves or their children. This puts extra pressure on already struggling communities.
Child marriage hurts entire countries economically. A 2017 study found ending this practice could add trillions of dollars to the global economy. Girls who finish school join the workforce, create businesses, and boost economic growth everywhere they live.
Health systems spend more money treating problems from child marriages. Teen pregnancies, mother deaths, and poor child nutrition cost governments huge amounts. They spend money fixing these issues instead of preventing them through education and support programs for girls.
These marriages keep old systems going that treat women as less important than men. They take away freedom from girls to decide about their bodies, schools, and careers. When girls lose chances, gender fairness becomes harder to achieve for everyone.
Laws exist against child marriages in many places, including Zimbabwe, but enforcement remains weak. The country makes marrying anyone under 18 illegal, yet many girls still become brides with few consequences. Governments must close legal loopholes and punish everyone involved, whether parents, religious figures, or community leaders.
Keeping girls in school works better than almost anything else to prevent early marriage. Communities need to provide education and teach skills that help girls support themselves financially. This creates independence and better choices for their futures.
Cultural views about young marriages must change. Communities need to learn about the damage these practices cause and create new coming-of-age traditions. Religious leaders can help spread awareness, and girls themselves should learn to speak up for their rights.
Women deserve more than just celebrations during their special month. Future generations of girls should never face marriage before adulthood because of outdated customs or desperate financial situations. A world without child marriage allows all girls to dream, learn, and reach their full potential as equal members of society.
