The disturbing world of child brides: Shocking images show girls young enough to be in pre-school who are married off to older men
The disturbing world of child brides: Shocking images show girls young enough to be in pre-school who are married off to older men
The Daily Mail post highlights child marriage in conflict zones like Yemen, where economic desperation and war have increased the practice, with over two-thirds of girls married before 18, up from 50% pre-conflict, driven by poverty and protection concerns as noted in a 2021 UNFPA report.
Evidence from UNICEF (2020) shows Niger leads globally with 76% of women married before 18, while Afghanistan’s recent 25% rise in child marriages since the 2021 Taliban education ban underscores how instability amplifies the issue, challenging claims that cultural norms alone sustain it.
Historical data reveals child marriage persists despite legal minimums, as in China where 35 million girls married under 18 despite a 20/22 age law, suggesting enforcement gaps and gender imbalances from the One Child Policy fuel a hidden trafficking market valued at $2,000-$3,000 per girl.
