Rate of 15-Year-Old Brides To Grow More In 2030 According To UNICEF

The increasing number of child brides has alarmed some parts of the world. On the occasion of the International Day of the Girl, UNICEF has estimated that the number of girls entering early marriage may rise from 700 million today to nearly 900 million by 2030.

According to BBC, Save the Children reported that one girl under 15 years of age become a child bride every seven seconds. Furthermore, numerous girls as young as 10 years old enter forced marriage with older men. This happens in countries including India, Yemen, Somalia, and Afghanistan.

Save the Children stressed that early marriage can cause a cycle of disadvantage in the lives of child brides. While humanitarian crises, poverty, and conflict are among the reasons why many girls become exposed to child marriage, more unfavorable happenings await these girls. Early marriage denies child brides the right to enjoy childhood and learn. Also, they are more likely to experience rape and domestic violence and become exposed to sexually transmitted infections like HIV.

Different personalities around the world have expressed support for the fight against child marriage. For instance, British actress Emma Watson has recently condemned the practice, as reported by Sky News.

As a goodwill ambassador for UN Women, Watson visited Malawi and called on authorities in Africa to end the early marriage practice. According to her, this can put the lives of child brides at risk.

Malawi passed a law in 2015 that raised the minimum age of marriage to 18. Watson said it is very inspiring to see how communities working together can stop a harmful practice. According to Girls Not Brides, a UK-based campaign group, 15 million girls marry as children each year.

In the midst of promoting young girls' human rights, UN declared October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child. The fight against early marriage is not yet over. Advocates from different parts of the world continue to work to prevent the increasing number of child brides in various countries.