Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
September 15, 2009
The tragic death of a 12-year-old mother and her newborn baby in Yemen underscores the need to step up efforts to prevent child marriage, UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman said today.
Yemeni woman Fawzia Ammodi was forced to marry a 24-year-old man when she turned 12. During her three-day labor, she died of massive hemorrhaging. Her baby also could not be saved.
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of 12-year-old Fawzia Ammodi,” said Ann Veneman, stressing that the girl was a victim of the practice of forced marriage at an early age, which is one of the worst violations of children’s rights.
She added that child brides and wives under 15 are at high risk of mortality during pregnancy and childbirth. The risk for them is five times higher than for women giving birth after age 20.
Ann Veneman noted that early marriages are usually the result of poverty and the disregard for women's rights, including discrimination in access to education.
In the 21st century, girls are still being forced into marriage in many parts of the world, often at a young age. A recent UN report found that in Nepal, seven percent of girls were married before they turned 10. A study of 1,322 marriages in six villages in Kyrgyzstan found that half of "ethnic Kyrgyz marriages" were the result of kidnapping, and two-thirds were without the bride's consent. Even in the UK, the government's Forced Marriage Unit uncovers approximately 300 forced marriages annually.
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