Add your voice to the stand against child marriage
As the UN’s first International Day of the Girl arrives on 11 October 2012, millions of girls continue to bear the weight of poverty and discrimination - being married and traded by their families as they struggle to survive.
Each day an estimated 24,500 girls will marry before reaching their 18th birthdays. At current rates, 100 million girls will marry as children in the next decade. This is a staggering loss of potential.
Getting married at a young age is damaging to girls in so many ways - physically, emotionally and psychologically.
We want to mark the first International Day of the Girl by calling loud and clear that the world must unite and take action to end child marriage. By coming together on facebook, twitter and blogs for International Day of the Girl we want to create a moment of solidarity – woman to woman, girl to girl, mother to child - to say that this is unacceptable and this must end.
Girls must feel empowered and protected – in their homes, their communities and their countries. We believe that all girls deserve the opportunity to realise their potential and have the opportunity to dream, explore and discover.
World Vision is working with Girls Not Brides, which features more than 180 other partners across nearly 40 countries to bring about this change.
Let’s unite to amplify the voices of girls at risk and strengthen efforts to end child marriage at local, national and global levels. Please join us.
The time to take a stand against child marriage is today.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“When my father told me I was going to be married off, I felt my life had been ruined. I visualized a life like that of my mother - marriage, lots of children. All dreams shattered.” Chaitali, 10 – Bangladesh
“I couldn’t believe my ears. I burst into loud cry and my eyes were filled with tears. I begged her kneeling down to cancel the marriage, but she said no.” Amira, 10 – Ethiopia. Amira's full story is found here.
“It was not voluntary and I became very angry when I heard about. It was a sudden agony to me. I felt I would have no chance for education. My hope for development darkened.’’ Kassa, 14 – Ethiopia
"I was 17 years old at that time. I don't know if I had a choice or not. All I knew is that I had to obey my parents." Krishna, 24 - India
‘Early marriage is dangerous for a girl. I was thinking that if I got married at that age it was nothing but to choose the cave of death. Promita, 16 – Bangladesh.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Join us in taking a stand against child marriage by blogging, tweeting or sharing a link on facebook using the stories provided. As we fight for global action to tackle this issue your voice strengthens these efforts, amplifying our call to your readers, your friends and your community.
If you’re a blogger:
- Write about child marriage on your blog in honour of #dayofthegirl, asking your readers to add their voice or sponsor a girl to help put an end to child marriage.
- Add the link code above right to be featured on our website and amplify the call.
- Tweet us at @WorldVisionPR or @KaylaERobertson to let us know.
On twitter and facebook:
- Follow @WorldVisionUK and @WorldVisionPR and World Vision’s facebook page for news and stories on #childmarriage. Share, RT and add your voice
Sponsor a girl:
- Sponsoring a girl provides girls and their communities with education and support to empower them to take a stand against child marriage.