UNICEF’s Post

In times of crisis, girls face invisible battles beyond survival, the loss of autonomy, safety, and identity. Protecting their right to choose isn’t just a goal, it’s a collective responsibility.

The entire world in general and UNICEF in particular failed to protect children in many parts of the world especially in Gaza..... There is an urgent need for the civilized world to sit in and sort out how to prevent it in future.

This reveals a critical and ongoing challenge for gender equality and child protection in most of developing countries . This statistic highlights how child marriage remains a significant social and developmental issue, despite progress in education and awareness efforts. Forexample in my country, the persistence of child marriage is linked to poverty, limited access to education for girls, cultural traditions and gender inequality. In many rural areas, families see early marriage as a way to secure their daughters’ future or reduce economic burdens. However, early marriage often leads to negative outcomes, such as school dropout, early pregnancy, health risks and restricted economic opportunities for women. So, ending child marriage requires a united effort that combines education, law enforcement, community engagement and economic empowerment to ensure every girl can reach her full potential.

The girl child continues to be one of the major vulnerable groups especially in 3rd world countries. Girls are the future, mothers and sisters who can shape a nation's growth in various ways if they are nurtured and empowered. I am one who thinks we are all tackling this issue in a wrong way and that's why the numbers in early girl child marriages keep increasing. The idea is to reach out the perpetrators before they perpetrate. It's all about changing the mindset of boys and girls at their early stages in life and teach them about the virtues of personal identity, personal growth, and personal development. If all genders are taught to respect themselves they eventually grow up respecting others too. Men will know the value of living little girls to grow, and mothers will nurture their girls to become self empowered, independent ladies as they grow.

Very important, indeed.

Luring poor parents with money and marrying their young daughters is still going on in the 3rd world countries. It rather does not stops with just marriages to over aged men too but its more like a sort of trading these young women across borders which should be stopped. Every girl child has the right to choose her life and live it to the fullest. No one should be deprived of their rights to live.

Inexperience of parenting is a great limitations to every girl child married at this phase of age range.

Dear World, Fighting Child Marriages is a Responsibility if all of us🙏. Do Something.

Early Marriage in Nigeria: A Crisis Affecting 1 in 5 Young Women Early marriage remains a major social and public health concern in Nigeria, where an estimated 1 in 5 young women are married before the age of 18. This issue is deeply rooted in cultural traditions, poverty, gender inequality, and lack of access to education. Many families, especially in rural areas, view early marriage as a way to secure their daughters’ future or reduce economic burden, but in reality, it exposes these young girls to numerous lifelong risks. In Northern Nigeria, where child marriage is most prevalent, some girls are married off as early as 12 or 13 years old. These early unions often cut short their education and dreams, limiting their opportunities for personal and economic growth. Once married, many of these girls face the burden of early pregnancies, which pose serious health risks such as obstetric fistula, complications during childbirth, and even maternal death due to immature pelvic development. Beyond physical health, early marriage affects mental and emotional well-being. Young girls are often subjected to domestic violence, sexual abuse, and psychological trauma. Many become trapped in cycles of poverty and dependence