An eight year-old child bride died in Yemen on her wedding
night after suffering internal injuries due to sexual trauma. Human rights
organizations are calling for the arrest of her husband, who was five times her
age.
Al Nahar, Lebanon, reported that the death occurred in the
tribal area of Hardh in northwestern Yemen, which borders Saudi Arabia. This
brings even more attention to the already existing issue of forced child marriages
in the Middle East.
"According to the United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA), between 2011 and 2020, more than 140 million girls will become child
brides. Furthermore, of the 140 million girls who will marry before the age of
18, 50 million will be under the age of 15."
It is reported that over a quarter of Yemen's young girls
are married before the age of 15. Not only do they lose access to health and
education, these child brides are commonly subjected to physical, emotional and
sexual violence in their forced marriages.
One of the main issues is that there is currently no
consistent established definition of a "child" that has been agreed
upon worldwide. This leaves various
interpretations within countries and little protection for those who are affected.
Establishing this age limit is among the top priorities of
groups like HRC which was responsible for publishing the 54-page report “How
Come You Allow Little Girls to Get Married?”, documenting the lifelong damage
to girls who are forced to marry at young ages.
Most pro age-limit organizations agree that 18 should be the legal age
for marriage.
In February 2009, a law was created in Yemen that set the
minimum age for marriage at 17. Unfortunately, it was repealed after more
conservative lawmakers called it un-Islamic.
Source : www.theworld-aroundus.com