Putting an end to child marriages in the African continent

The issue of child brides have not been properly addressed in the African nations. Its still a practise that cuts across Africa and a more aggressive movement to put and end to this is yet to be visible. Recently on the news was a pledge by African Union to 'stop all child marriages within a generation.'



 

It's worthy to note that child brides make up about sixty percent of all fistula cases, caused by prolonged obstructed labor leaving a woman incontinent, occur in girls under 18. Apart from this, their childhood is taken away as the assume the responsibilities of a wife and mother where they are merely kids. Any quest for education is killed as they are consumed by their new world or outrightly banned from schools by their husbands.

Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, the African Union Goodwill Ambassador for the campaign to end child marriage in Africa, said the practice is a violation of the fundamental rights of girls. She believes that if governments, women and youth movements, faith and traditional leaders pull together, it can be ended within a generation.

Lets join the campaign to put an end to this in our continent.