Why Yemen needs a minimum age of marriage
A clear minimum age of marriage is one of the strongest legal protections a girl can have. This article explains why it matters in Yemen, and what a law can and cannot do.
The debate in Yemen
The minimum age of marriage has long been debated in Yemen. In 2013, Nada Al-Ahdal's video drew international attention to child marriage and led the Yemeni government to introduce laws criminalising it.
What a law protects
- It makes clear that a child is not ready for marriage.
- It gives parents a firm reason to resist pressure.
- It allows officials to stop a marriage before it happens.
- It gives girls a right they can claim.
A law needs support
A law alone does not end child marriage. Families need support to cope with poverty. Girls need schools that stay open to them. Communities need to understand the harm that early marriage causes.
A shared goal
Ending child marriage is not about one group against another. It is about the safety and the future of Yemen's daughters.
Nada Foundation calls for a minimum age of marriage that protects every girl, everywhere in Yemen.