Press Release

TAKE THE VOW SO GIRLS CAN SAY NO TO EARLY/FORCED MARRIAGE

Aug 12, 2011 11:27 BST
TAKE THE VOW SO GIRLS CAN SAY NO TO EARLY/FORCED MARRIAGE

This is Noha. She is just 14 years old and she’s about to be married to a man more than twice her age. Every year, 10 million girls like Noha are married young and too often against their will. Some are as young as five. This can end their chance of going to school and shorten their lives by leaving them more vulnerable to violence, HIV and death in childbirth.

Plan UK is campaigning to end child marriage and the practice of girls being forced to marry young.  The charity works with young people, communities and religious leaders on this issue across the developing world.

“Why is the international community so silent when so many girls are involved?” asks Plan’s chief executive in the UK, Marie Staunton.

“This is an abuse of human rights that ignores their best interests, their views and undermines efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals."

“Child marriage is a practice imbedded in many cultures and traditions, is exacerbated by poverty and too often increases after disasters and emergencies.”

They are calling on Lynne Featherstone MP, the UK’s International Violence against Women Champion, to press for more global attention and action on this issue. The action has already been signed by nearly 3,000 people and is being supported by UK MPs, Mumsnet's Justine Roberts, Eliza Doolittle, Jameela Jamil and Dr Miriam Stoppard to name a few. Find out who else has taken the vow and sign up here: here http://www.plan-uk.org/vow

View this motion infographic highlighting the key findings from Plan UK's ”Breaking Vows: Early and Forced Marriage and Girls’ Education” report here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K87Wz_UDLZM

Related links: http://www.plan-uk.org/

1) Plan UK’s report Breaking Vows: Early and Forced Marriage and Girls’ Education launched on the 27th June 2011 as part of Plan’s Because I am a Girl campaign.

2) Because I am a Girl is a fast growing global campaign in support of girls’ education. The campaign aims to ensure millions more girls in the world’s poorest countries can access a quality education. An education that will contribute towards breaking the cycle of poverty for generations to come. For more information visit www.becauseiamagirl.org

3) Plan is a global children’s charity. We work with children in the world’s poorest countries to help them build a better future. A future you would want for all children, your family and friends. For over 70 years we’ve been taking action and standing up for every child’s right to fulfil their potential by:

· giving children a healthy start in life, including access to safe drinking water

· securing the education of girls and boys

· working with communities to prepare for and survive disasters

· inspiring children to take a lead in decisions that affect their lives

· enabling families to earn a living and plan for their children’s future.

We do what’s needed, where it’s needed most. We do what you would do. With your support children, families and entire communities have the power to move themselves from a life of poverty to a future with opportunity.

www.plan.org.uk

Categorization

Topics:
Children, Youth
Conflicts
Gender equality
Social conditions
Youth issues
Tags:
petition
because i’m a girl
plan uk
plan
forced marriage
early marriage
infographic

Related images

Take the vow - banner

Take the vow - banner

Oct 10, 2011 12:23 BST Take the vow. So girls can say “no” to marriage Noha is 14. She’s about to marry a man twice her age. And she’s just one of 10 million girls who’ll be married either too young, or against their will this year – some as young as five years old. This can end their chance of going to school and shorten their lives by leaving them more vulnerable to violence, HIV and death in childbirth.

View more (1)

Comments (0)

Add comment