Yemen's 2013 call for a law to end child marriage
On 13 September 2013, the Yemeni minister Hooria Mashhour said she was seeking a law to end child marriage. She told the BBC she believed there was more chance of progress on the issue in Yemen than ever before. This article looks back at that moment.
Why the call came
Her words came amid an international outcry. Reports said an eight-year-old girl had died of internal bleeding on the night she was married to a 40-year-old man.
The news shocked people in Yemen and around the world. It showed, in the most painful way, what early marriage can do to a child.
Poverty and pressure
Reports at the time noted that poor families marrying young girls off for money remained common in Yemen. Hardship pushes some families towards choices that harm their daughters.
That is why a law alone is not enough. Families also need support, and communities need to understand the risks.
What a law can change
A clear minimum age of marriage gives girls a protection that everyone can see. It helps parents to resist pressure. It gives officials and judges a firm rule to apply.
The call made in 2013 still matters today. Every girl deserves to grow up, to learn and to choose her own future.