Countries With Highest Number Of Child Marriages
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4 April 2024
The news of a 63-year-old priest in Ghana marrying a 12-year-old girl has shocked the internet
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Though the priest has defended the wedding, there are countries where child marriage is practiced
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According to Pew Research Centre, 117 countries, including the US, allow children to marry
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Here's a look at some of these countries, as the world fights to end the epidemic of child marriage
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Child marriage by abduction or forced union between cousins is a deeply-rooted cultural practice in Ethiopia
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As a result, one in every five girls is married before they turn 18, the legal age for marriage
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High rates of teen pregnancy in Brazil contribute to the practice of child marriage
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Limited economic and educational opportunities also make marriage and appealing option for teenagers seeking a stable life
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Nigeria's Constitution does not specify a minimum age for marriage, but a 2003 act has set it at 18
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However, only 23 of Nigeria's 36 states enforce it and more than 80% of girls with no education marry before 18
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Bangladesh has shown some signs of improving rates of child marriage by implementing fines and prison time for culprits
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However, loopholes in the legal system still allow child marriage under special circumstances, as per an Al-Jazeera report
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