Too Young to Wed: the secret world of child brides
Every year, millions of young girls around the world are forced into marriage. Many countries have outlawed child marriage, and international agreements forbid it. Yet the practice still spans continents, languages, religions and castes.
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Eight years of work
Over eight years, photographer Stephanie Sinclair investigated child marriage in India, Yemen, Afghanistan, Nepal and Ethiopia. Her multimedia presentation, made with National Geographic, brings this work together as a call to action.
Her images appear in a story on child marriage in the June 2011 issue of National Geographic magazine.
In a related article, Sinclair shares the hard experiences of child brides. She explains why their voices must be heard, and describes the challenges she faced as a journalist who witnessed their struggles and abuse.
How to help
National Geographic has compiled a list of organisations that encourage families to delay marriage and give girls the chance to reach their full potential.
Teachers can download a free lesson plan to use this presentation in class.