The United Nations is concerned about early marriages of girls in the world
Coinciding with Valentine’s Day on February 14th, the United Nations has announced that 12 million girls are married before the age of eighteen. The problem that has many consequences and risks to the general health of the society, especially the health of babies and girls.
The United Nations also said that if these marriages are not stopped, the number will increase 10 times in the next 8 years.
On this year’s Valentine’s Day, the United Nations Population Fund, by launching a campaign, asked all families around the world to prevent forced marriages before the legal age and to support girls.
Previously, UNICEF warned that South Asian countries, including Afghanistan, have the highest rate of child marriage in the world. The Washington Post also reported in Jadi month that poor families in Afghanistan are forced to sell their female children to survive.
Dr. Zarghune Mehdi told a media outlet that marriage before the age of 18 has increased the risk of maternal mortality during childbirth. According to him, this issue causes malformations and other problems in babies.
Hikmatullah Fayaz, a social activist, says that marriage at this age prevents girls from accessing their educational, economic and human rights. He adds that girls are not ready for marriage and raising children in these conditions.
This is while girls in Afghanistan are mostly victims of forced marriages, before the legal age and against their will, due to traditional issues, family poverty, and lack of knowledge. A problem that is considered a big danger not only for girls but also in the society