Girls ending child marriage in Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, 40% of all girls are married before their 18th birthday. This UNICEF video tells the story of a 16-year-old girl who came close to becoming one of them.
Play video: Girls ending child marriage in EthiopiaThe video loads from YouTube when you play it.
With the help of her school, her parents agreed to change their plans and let her continue her education. She is now an active member of the school's girls' club. The club works to make sure that no girl or boy in their community is married in childhood.
The global programme
The UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage has three aims:
- adolescent girls at risk of, or affected by, child marriage make their own informed decisions about marriage, education and sexual and reproductive health;
- the relevant systems and institutions respond well to the needs of adolescent girls and their families;
- the legal and political response is stronger, to prevent child marriage and to support pregnant, married, divorced or widowed adolescent girls.