Women march in Beirut for a law to end child marriage
On 3 March 2019, women protesters took to the streets of Beirut to call for a law to prevent marriage under the age of 18.
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A march in the rain
Despite the rain, hundreds of women marched in solidarity, armed with umbrellas and banners. As they walked through the streets, they chanted the slogan "Different causes, shared anger."
Young girls marching in wedding dresses were a stark reminder of the fate of the most vulnerable. The protest came ahead of International Women's Day on 8 March.
No minimum age
Lebanon currently has no minimum age of marriage. A draft law that would set the minimum age at 18 is still waiting for parliament to consider it. Until the bill is passed, girls younger than 15 can marry under religious law.
Calls on parliament
Member of parliament Paula Yacoubian says marriage under the age of 18 should not be accepted "economically, morally or on a humanitarian basis".
"They are getting rid of their daughters, who then return to their family with bigger problems. We hope that this time the parliament will take responsibility," she says.
Maya Zoghbi, head of the women's department of the Lebanese Forces party, says she wants parliament to pass the law "without any exceptions".
The report comes from AP Archive.