A Plan UK report estimates that 10 million girls each year become child brides–one every three seconds. Plan UK points out early marriage as a child ends their chance of education, leaves them at risk of marital rape and domestic violence, and an increased chance of a reduced lifespan.
The country with the highest rate: Niger, 75%
(but unclear of what–75% of girls are married early? can’t be of all married girls since other nations are listed as having “rates of 50% or more”)
Other high rates: Chad, Mali, Bangladesh, Guinea.
With rates of 50% or over: Central African Republic, Mozambique, Nepal and Malawi.
Factoid: 1 out of every 7 girls in the world’s poorest countries is married before their 15th birthday.
Early marriage also occurs in Eastern European nations, although not at such high rates.
Christians can stand against this injustice. However, we can also urge Christians and churches in these nations to reach out in ministry to these young brides. What kind of ministries can be or are being done?
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