Girls Not Brides: Traditions can change - ending child marriage

Child marriage robs 10 million girls a year of their childhood. A harmful traditional practice, child marriage denies girls their rights to health, education and security.

'Great change can happen within a single generation. I know this to be true.' - Desmond Tutu

In this new video from Girls Not Brides¸Graça Machel, Mary Robinson and Desmond Tutu of The Elders call on people around the world to action: to end child marriage in a single generation.

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  Nonprofits & Activism

[peacerebelgirl]

selling girls anywhere in the world the idea that their role in life is to be a mother and a wife handicaps them. movies sell fairytale happily ever after scenarios that keep women living in domestic abuse situations, still hoping that their frog will become a prince charming one day. this expected and in some parts of the world forced role stifles women, preventing them from finding out who they are, what they can do and who they can become.

[Marilyn Bunderson]

Sad. There is so much that is wrong in the world. Those of us who can must each do something to help those who cannot.

[RoyalThoughtsOnline]

Girls can be brides too. Age of puberty should be age of marriage. So it can be as low as 10. Feminists like hillary and tutu can have better job ....rather than utterly jealous at young girl getting married.

[goldktgal]

I agree that women who have been convinced to not stick up for their own sex have been some of the worst offenders of suppression. That is something that should change. But many are not educated outside of their religious/tribal/cultural range. And it has been proven that any person with a broader range of references has less polarized views or at least can see both sides and react with less prejudice.

[John West]

One more comment. This discussion should open up another relevant topic. Wealthy tourists traveling to Third World countries for sexual purposes with what would be considered in the First World felony violation of a person underage. I say "person" advisedly since the victim might well be an underage male.

[John West]

Educate or miseducate? That is the question. Some of the most aggravated assaults, if only verbal, encountered during the human rights campaigns in the America South came from women, the jeering, the contorted faces of hatred. Revisit the videos. So again, the question becomes what kinda education? Or are we talking about the continuation of indoctrination in the guise of education. Yes, some of the cruelest expression of bigotry have come from women!!! Something to think about.

[John West]

The great leap forward will come with the alleviation of grotesque economic imbalances between wealthy and the poor which will bing about education. This organization's mission is said to be: help resolve some of the world's most intractable conflicts" and other issues. Well, during the Apartheid Years, the world stood by as 87 percent of the South African population was forcibly relocated to a 13 percent land mass, something akin to the forced relocaton of indigenous American populations!

[meg51293]

Really nice it was... as a girl I feel strongly that these things should be banned... even if people cry that this is an attack on their culture, religion whatever... what matter first is humanity, and snatching one's life's opportunities, fun, liveliness... despicable..

[JIN Chew]

Of course traditions can change, european womens changed things before, 60 years ago, womens can't even vote or have a bank account in Europe. Today most of women are totally independant from males. Things are not perfect today but its our role to continue the struggle every day. Now this is your turn girls from all over the world. But always remember that : there is no victory there is only battles.

[goldktgal]

Educate women. Stand up to traditions. Include men and get them on the side of women. The culture of subverting women and girls is WRONG. As societies get exposed for their ways they will feel pressure to change.

[bustacapinlutha]

i cannot imagine to be married as a child and to never know the physical pleasures of marriage - just the torture.