Behind the wedding celebration: what a child bride loses
A wedding is often a day of music, food and dancing. Families celebrate and guests bring gifts. But when the bride is a child, the celebration hides a serious loss.
The end of childhood
After the wedding, a child bride is expected to act as a wife. She may move to a new home, far from her parents, her friends and her school. Her days of play and learning often come to an end.
Her health at risk
A girl's body is still growing. Early pregnancy and childbirth can put her life and her baby's life in danger.
Her safety at risk
A young wife has little power in her new home. She may face violence or control, and find it hard to ask for help.
Her rights at risk
Every child has the right to education, to health, to protection and to be heard. A marriage she did not freely choose takes many of these rights away at once.
Tradition and change
In many communities, early marriage is part of an old tradition. Families may believe it protects their daughter or their honour. These beliefs can change when people see the harm clearly.
Communities can keep the joy of weddings and still protect children, by celebrating marriages between adults who have freely chosen each other.
Sharing images with care
Videos of child weddings are sometimes shared online as entertainment. Such images can make the practice look normal. Before sharing, it is worth asking: does this protect the child, or harm her?
A girl deserves her own celebrations: finishing school, finding work she loves and choosing her future.