From one girl's plea to a change in Yemen's law
In 2013, Nada Al-Ahdal was 11 years old. One week before the date set for her wedding, she fled her home in Yemen to escape a forced child marriage. What she did next helped to change the law.
A plea the world heard
Nada recorded a video message about the harm of child marriage and shared it on YouTube. It had 8 million views in under three days and was translated into more than 40 languages. Media around the world reported her story.
From attention to action
The international coverage led the Yemeni government to introduce laws criminalising child marriage. A child's voice had reached the decision makers.
From a plea to an organisation
Prime Minister Ahmed Obaid bin Daghr supported the idea of turning Nada's efforts into an organisation. Nada Foundation grew from that idea. It works to protect girls, to raise awareness in communities and to end child marriage.
In 2020, the foundation received the "With and For Girls" award from Purposeful in London.
Why laws matter
A law sends a clear message: a child is not ready for marriage. But a law works best when families understand it and communities support it. Awareness and the law must go together.
Nada's courage shows that a girl's voice can reach lawmakers. Her story is a reason to keep going until no girl is married as a child.